Golden West Trips Tigers, 4-2, with Two-run Ninth Tuesday.

Golden West Trips Tigers, 4-2, with Two-run Ninth Tuesday.

RIVERSIDE -- The Golden West College (GWC) Rustlers overcame a pair of one-run deficits and scored a pair of runs in the top of the ninth and defeated the host Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers baseball team, 4-2, in an Orange Empire Conference (OEC) game Tuesday afternoon (Apr. 21) at Evans Sports Complex.

Golden West (22-13 overall, 14-6 OEC), took over sole possession of first place in the OEC standings. Sophomore RF Kyle Moore (Suffolk, VA) tripled home freshman 2B Dillon Persinger (Fountain Valley HS), who had walked ahead of him and advanced to second on a passed ball. Moore then scored an insurance run when the catcher's throw sailed into left field on a perceived attempted squeeze play.

Sophomore 1B Jordan Lucio (Fountain Valley HS) went three for four to pace the Rustlers. Persinger went two for three with two runs scored for GWC.

Riverside City (21-14, 9-11 OEC) took a 1-0 lead in the third on a RBI single by freshman 1B Israel Fuentes (Chino Hills HS). Fuentes gave RCC a 2-1 lead in the sixth when he singled and scored on a RBI single by sophomore LF David Schuknecht (Palm Desert HS). Fuentes just barely put his foot on home plate ahead of the catcher's tag. Fuentes went two for three for the Tigers.

In the seventh, Persinger singled when his line drive ricocheted off the left foot of RCC sophomore starting LHP Austin Sodders (Moreno Valley / Canyon Springs HS) and went through the right side of the infield. A base hit by Moore and a double steal set the stage for Persinger to score on an infield out, tying the game at 2-2.

GWC freshman RHP Josh Gogue (Anaheim / Cypress HS) came on in the eighth and recorded the final four outs to notch the victory and improve to 6-3. (He also has five saves on the season.) RCC sophomore RHP David Robles (San Bernardino / Rialto HS) pitched the final two innings and allowed two hits, two runs (one earned), and one walk as his record fell to 0-4.

Both teams conclude the regular season on Thursday, Apr. 23, at 2 p.m. when RCC visits Golden West.

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