Santa Ana Tops Tigers, 6-1, in Conference Action Thursday

RIVERSIDE – The Santa Ana College Dons scored three runs in the top of the first inning and were never headed as they cruised to a 6-1 Orange Empire Conference (OEC) victory over the host Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers men's baseball team Thursday afternoon (Mar. 31) at the Evans Sports Complex.

SAC freshman starting RHP Guillermo Sanchez went the distance (9.0 innings) for the first time this season as he allowed the one run (earned) on six hits and three walks (and three hit batsmen) while striking out five to improve to 4-2.

RCC starting sophomore RHP Sabino Ramirez (Cathedral City / Cathedral City HS '14) -- who is pictured -- went 8-2/3 innings and surrendered six runs (all earned) on ten hits and one walk while striking out four as his record leveled at 3-3. Three RCC relievers combined to record the final out in the top of the ninth.

Santa Ana (16-7 overall, 3-5 OEC) was led by sophomore CF Colin Winn, who went three for five with one run scored. Sophomore SS Tommy Anderson went two for three and sophomore catcher Jeff Murray drove in two runs as he opened the scoring with a RBI "leg" double in the first and closed the scoring with a bases-loaded walk in the ninth.

Riverside City (14-9 overall, 2-6 OEC) scored only the second inning when sophomore LF Garrison Cole (Palm Desert / Xavier Prep. '13) was hit by a pitch, and went to third on a double by sophomore SS Brody Weiss (Denver, CO / Regis Jesuit HS '13). Cole scored on a would-be sacrifice fly to right field off the bat of sophomore catcher Tommie Pincin (Upland / Upland HS '14), but Weiss was doubled out at second base.

RCC didn't help matters in the early going as it hit into four double plays in the first four innings. Weiss went two for four for RCC.

Both teams return to OEC action on Saturday, April 2, at 12 p.m. when RCC visits Santa Ana at SAC's Don Sneddon Field.

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