Fullerton's Five-run Seventh Gives Hornets a 9-8 win at Riverside

RIVERSIDE -- Surrendering five runs in the top of the seventh inning proved to be the undoing of the Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers baseball team as it dropped a 9-8 Orange Empire Conference (OEC) home decision to the visiting Fullerton College (FC) Hornets Tuesday evening (Apr. 8) at the Evans Sports Complex.

Fullerton (19-11, 9-8 OEC) parlayed three singles and three walks into five runs to turn around an 8-4 RCC advantage.

Late-inning defensive replacement, SS Christian Prado drove in three runs in his three at bats, including a game-tying two-run single in the seventh. Sophomore RHP Christian Salinas (La Habra), the third of five Fullerton pitchers, was credited with the win (1-0), while freshman RHP Cory Peterson (Rancho Cucamonga / Etiwanda HS), who pitched to one batter (who walked and came around to score), was dinged for the loss (0-2) 

Riverside (15-15, 9-8 OEC), which trailed 2-0 entering bottom of the second inning, responded with two runs in its half of the inning. RCC led, 6-2, 7-2, and 8-4, before the Tigers' bullpen collapsed. Sophomore LHP Don Sullivan left with one out in the seventh and had allowed six runs (three earned) to that point.

Freshman 2b Austin Monte (Corona / Santa Ana - Mater Dei HS) went three for three with three runs and one RBI to pace the Tigers.

Both teams continue OEC action on Thursday, Apr. 10, at 2 p.m. when Fullerton hosts the Orange Coast Pirates and Riverside visits the Irvine Valley College Lasers.

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