MARSHALL, Mo. – The (RV) Raven Baseball team continued divisional play on Friday and Saturday with a three-game series on the road against Missouri Valley College.
The Ravens finished the weekend scoring 34 runs off 36 hits as the swept Vikings with an 11-1 on Friday and then a pair of wins, 6-3 and 17-11, on Saturday.
Michael Kruse earned the start for the series opener on Friday. He benefited from a seven-run lead before taking the mound as the Ravens plated home seven runs off four hits in the top of the first.
Kruse went six innings in the win, finishing with six strikeouts while giving up one run off three hits.
At the plate, the Ravens connected on 13 hits. Michael Slaten went 3 for 4 with a home run, a double and a triple coming up a single shy of the cycle as he finished with four RBI. Drew Piontek added a double while Daryl Myers added a home run. Myers and Danny Favazza finished with two RBI each to round out the Ravens offensive efforts in the series opener.
In game two of the series on Saturday, Kam Miller earned the start on the hill. He was given a one-run lead before he took the hill and went on to throw three and two-thirds innings before he was relieved. Miller allowed one run off four hits before Isaac Rudolph and Ben Hankammer finished off the Vikings. Hankammer threw the final inning to earn the save.
Austin Watamaniuk set the plate for the Ravens offense. He finished with a double and home run while scoring two runs and driving in two. Favazza added a double while Logan Finley added two RBI to round out the Ravens offensive efforts.
In the series finale, the Ravens rallied to earn the win. The Ravens scored 12 runs over the seventh, eighth and ninth innings to earn the six run win.
The Ravens used eight pitchers to earn the win. Luke Caruthers earned the start and went the first three and one-third innings. He gave up two runs off five hits. Jacob Slaten earned the win throwing three and one-third. He finished giving up two earned runs off six hits with four strikeouts.
Five Ravens hit home runs with two more hitting a double. Andrew Richards connected on two home runs while adding four RBI. Finley, Michael Slaten, Myers and Jordan Williams added a home run each while Michael Slaten and Piontek each added a double. Myers matched Richards wiith four RBI, Michael Slaten added three RBI while Finley and Peter had finished with two RBI each.
The Ravens are scheuled to travel to Leavenworth on Wednesay to take on the University of St. Mary before returning to Heart play with a divisional series with No. 15 Central Methodist University on March 30 and 31.
