Six-run Seventh Helps Western Nevada Take Series, 8-2, over Tigers

RIVERSIDE -- Six unearned runs in the top of the seventh proved to be the undoing of the Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers men's baseball team as the Western Nevada College (WNC) Wildcats posted an 8-2 non-conference victory Saturday (Feb. 15) at Evans Sports Complex, taking the rubber game of the three-game series.

Riverside (5-5) took a narrow 2-1 lead into the fateful seventh, but two hits, a hit batter and three infield errors extended the frame as WNC took command with a 7-2 advantage.

Western Nevada (7-4) added a run in the ninth for the final 8-2 score.

The Tigers erased a 1-0 deficit with a two-run fifth. With one out, freshman RF Cade Egri (La Quinta / La Quinta HS) singled through the left side and advanced to second and third on a pair of wild pitches. Egri scored on a safety squeeze sacrifice bunt by sophomore SS Nick King (Palm Springs / Palm Springs HS). A trio of walks put freshman 3B David Osuna (Bloomington / Fontana - Kaiser HS) at third and then he scored on a wild pitch to give RCC a 2-1 lead.

For WNC, freshman RF Jake Bennett (Forest Grove, OR) and sophomore SS Tony Roque (Boise, ID) each went three for four to pace the Wildcats.

Egri had two hits to lead RCC.

Sophomore RHP Rayne Raven (Tacoma, WA) entered with two outs in the fifth and pitched 2-1/3 innings of hitless relief to gain the win (1-0) for WNC. RCC freshman RHP Nick Hynes (San Dimas / Covina HS) pitched the sixth and seventh and allowed six runs (none earned) on three hits and two walks to get saddled with the loss (0-1). 

The Tigers return to action on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 6 p.m. when its visits the Mt. San Antonio College Mounties. 

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