Roaring Fork baseball split a doubleheader at home against the red-hot Coal Ridge Titans on Saturday, losing 11-8 and winning 11-8.

In game one, an eight-run second inning was the deciding factor behind the Titans’ win. The Rams answered back with a five-run third inning but were almost blanked the rest of the game.

On the mound, Coal Ridge’s Ben Simons collected five strikeouts while he gave up six hits and seven runs. Meanwhile, Roaring Fork senior Henry Richardson produced a respectable showing on the hill, also collected five strikeouts while giving up three hits and eight runs in five innings pitched.

At the plate, Simons nabbed two hits on four at bats with three runs batted in. The Rams collected 4 RBIs, with Richardson and senior teammate Nolan Peirson recording two runs and one RBI each.

Reversing roles, in game two, the Rams manufactured six runs in the second inning, as well as three pivotal runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Coal Ridge nearly went tit-for-tat, gaining five runs in the third inning. But a scoreless fourth, fifth and seventh innings while putting up three runs in the sixth just weren’t enough for the Titans.

On the mound, Titans sophomore Alex Serna nabbed five strikeouts in four innings pitched, but he also gave up eight runs on five hits. For the Rams, head coach Marty Madsen went through four pitchers. The rotations paid off, however, as Rams pitchers gave up just four hits for eight runs.

At the plate, Roaring Fork sophomore Noel Richardson swung a hot bat, hitting three RBIs on three at bats. Senior teammates David Good and Blake Thomas chipped in, collecting two RBIs apiece.

The split gives the 10-5 overall, 6-4 league Coal Ridge Titans a fourth place standing in the 3A Western Slope League. Meanwhile, Roaring Fork is now 8-9 overall, 4-6 league as the Rams sit in sixth place in the 3A WSL.

Next up, Roaring Fork hosts Rifle (13-4, 7-3) at 3 p.m. Wednesday. Coal Ridge plays Rangely (9-5, 2-0) away at 4 p.m. Monday.

Rifle sweeps Eagle Valley

Meanwhile, the Rifle Bears got back on track following their loss at Palisade last week to take both sides of a doubleheader from the visiting Eagle Valley Devils on Friday, 7-2 and 19-0.

Game one saw the Bears take a commanding 6-0 lead behind the hot bats of seniors Gavin Peterson (1-for-3, 3 RBIs) and Broc Caldwell (2-for-3, 1 RBI). Junior Kade Street also had an RBI. Junior Austin Bowlan got the pitching win.

Game two was all Rifle in a mercy rule shutout win in which Peterson got the pitching win and also knocked in a whopping nine runs on 4-for-4 batting with three runs scored. RBIs also came from Caldwell (2), sophomore Logan Gross (3), senior Charlie Hisel (2) and senior Easton Phillips (1).

Rifle looks to retain the second spot in the 4A Western Slope League at 7-3 in league and 13-4 overall. After a series of nonleague games against Roaring Fork on Wednesday, Middle Park Thursday and North Fork on May 10, the Bears close out the league season with a doubleheader on the road May 14 at Battle Mountain.

Around the horn: Glenwood Springs 17, Steamboat Springs 2; Steamboat Springs 5, Glenwood Springs 2; Grand Valley 13, Olathe 3; Grand Valley 14, Olathe 10.

Reporter Ray K. Erku can be reached at 612-423-5273 or rerku@postindependent.com. The Post Independent’s John Stroud contributed to this report.