at Riverside City College Tigers 3, East Los Angeles College Huskies 1 (nonconference)

at Riverside City College Tigers 3, East Los Angeles College Huskies 1 (nonconference)

RIVERSIDE – Posting its second victory in as many starts, the host Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers men's baseball team shaded the visiting East Los Angeles College (ELAC) Huskies for the second consecutive night, this time by a score of 3-1, in a nonconference contest Saturday evening at the Evans Sports Complex.
 
Riverside City (2-0) plated two runs in the bottom of the third inning and added one more in the fourth for a 3-0 lead.
 
In the third frame, the Tigers opened with a pair of singles and a fielder's choice before freshman DH David Schuknecht (Palm Desert HS) delivered a RBI single to score freshman C Michael Deceglie (Los Osos HS), who singled to start the inning. The next batter, sophomore 1B Daniel Arellano (Moreno Valley / Canyon Springs HS) lofted a sacrifice fly in foul left-field territory to score freshman SS Nicolas King (Palm Springs / Palm Springs HS). Arellano was the only player in the game with at least two hits.
 
RCC added an unearned run in the fourth when freshman CF K.C. Huth (Bonita HS) doubled down the left-field line with one out, was sacrificed to third and scored on a catcher's overthrow when Huth was retreating to third.
 
In the bottom of the sixth with one out, freshman right-fielder Joshua Clark (Hillcrest Christian HS) rifled a 1-0 pitch back to the box which knocked the glove off ELAC starting RHP Anthony Chavez (Los Angeles / University HS) and through to center field for a single. After a three-minute delay, Chavez stayed in the game. Chavez induced a groundout, but then allowed a four-ball walk and left the game.
 
East L.A. (0-2) got on the board in the top of the seventh when it received three walks to open the inning and load the bases. After a line-drive fly out to right field, freshman SS Kevin Rodriguez (Pico Rivera / El Rancho HS) was hit by a pitch to force in a run.
 
Riverside starting RHP, freshman Cortland Cox (Alta Loma HS), went the first five innings and allowed only two hits and one walk with six strikeouts on 69 pitches (47 strikes) to notch his first win of the season (1-0). Sophomore transfer LHP Kenny Mathews (Diamond Bar / Diamond Bar HS) – the last of three relievers for the Tigers – tossed the final 1-2/3 innings to log his first save of the season.
 
For ELAC, Chavez (0-1) went the first 5-2/3 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks, but had eight strikeouts.
 
Both teams continue non-conference action. Riverside hosts the Cuesta College Cougars on Tuesday, Feb. 5, at 3 p.m. On the other hand, East L.A. continues away from its on-campus home as it hosts the Citrus College Owls on Sunday, Feb. 3, at 11 a.m. at Jim Reeder Field on the campus of Cal State L.A. ELAC's on-campus field continues to undergo renovation and should be ready in time for its fourth South Coast Conference three-game series.