The Reivers traveled down to Missouri to open up the 2018 season in a four game series with Crowder College.
In Game 1, the Reivers jumped out to an early lead putting up 2 in the first with an RBI groundout by Sophomore Cole Evans and a RBI single by Redshirt-Freshman Gibson Krzeminski. Crowder responded with a run in the bottom of the first and Sophomore Kobe Hyland responded with an RBI single of his own scoring Sophomore Ryan Sullivan. The Reivers extended their lead in the 5th to make it 5-1 before Crowder pushed their second run of the game across in the bottom of the 5th. An untimely error in the bottom of th 6th allowed Crowder College to tie the game at 5 setting the table for a walk-off homerun to center to give Crowder the edge 6-5.
In Game 2, free bases and timely hitting allowed the Roughriders to jump out to a 5-0 lead in the second. Freshman Gregory Bennett notched his first college hit with a double to right center before Freshman Ross Indlecoffer hit his, knocking in Bennett to give the Reivers their lone run of the game giving Crowder the day with a 5-1 victory.
In Game 3, Sophomore Indigo Diaz set the tone on the mound striking out 7 and giving up 3 runs in 6 1/3 innings pitched. The offense was dormant until the top of the 7th where they pushed across 4 runs starting with a Tyler Reichenborn (SO) sac fly followed by a Brandon Bena (SO) 2 RBI double. Ryan Sullivan continued to swing the bat knocking in what would be the deciding run with a RBI single up the middle. The Roughriders would add 2 in the bottom half but would come up short leading to the first win of the 2018 season 4-3.
In Game 4, the Reivers would rattle off 14 hits in the game scoring 4 runs in the 4th, 3 in the 6th, and 7 in the 7th. Gibson Krzeminski lead the Reivers going 2-for-4 with 2 doubles, 2 RBIs, and 2 runs scored. Redhsirt-Sophomore Trey Smith got the scoring started with a 3 RBI double in the top of the 4th inning. The Reivers would sweep the day, split the series with a final of 14-7.
The Reivers will be back in action on March 3rd as the host Iowa Lakes for a Double Header starting at 1pm at Doc Ross Field.