Riverside "Walks Off" with Ten-inning, 5-4 Win over Irvine Valley

RIVERSIDE -- Anthony Ayala bounced a single over a drawn-in infield and into short right field, and Austin Monte scampered home with the winning run as the Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers men's baseball team emerged with a 5-4 "walkoff" Orange Empire Conference (OEC) home victory over the visiting Irvine Valley College (IVC) Lasers Tuesday afternoon (March 11) at the Evans Sports Complex.

Ayala, a freshman 2B from Fontana (Fontana HS), was a last-minute addition to the Tigers' starting lineup for freshman LHP Austin Sodders (Moreno Valley / Canyon Springs HS), who was to be the designated hitter. To add to the irony even more, Monte a freshman from Corona (Santa Ana - Mater Dei HS), was moved from 2B to DH just before the game began.

Sophomore SS Nick King (Palm Springs / Palm Springs HS) helped pace the Tigers with three singles, including two bunt hits, and three runs. Freshman LF Garrett Dean (Alta Loma / Alta Loma HS) went four for five to aid the Tigers' cause as well.

Irvine Valley (6-12, 2-4 OEC) managed only four hits, but one was a solo home run down the left-field line by freshman CF Brett Hamilton (Tesoro HS) to lead off the top of the seventh inning on a 1-1 pitch which greeted RCC sophomore RHP Tyler Leslie (Helendale / Silverado HS / Victor Valley CC). 

Sodders, who replaced Leslie to start the tenth inning, retired the Lasers in order and received the win to improve to 1-0. IVC closer, sophomore RHP A.J. Wolfson (Sage Hill HS), pitched 1.1 innings, but surrendered the unearned run as his record fell to 2-1.

With the win, Riverside improves to 10-9 (4-2 in OEC, tied for first place) and sees its run of five consecutive home games (4-1) come to an end. Both teams return to action on Thursday, Mar. 13, at 2 p.m. when RCC visits the Saddleback College Gauchos and IVC treks to face the Fullerton College Hornets.

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