Tigers Top Fullerton, 4-3, Tuesday at Home

RIVERSIDE – Sean Smith lofted a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning and pinch hitter Garrison Cole scored the winning run as the Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers men's baseball team shaded the Fullerton College (FC) Hornets, 4-3, in an Orange Empire Conference (OEC) game Tuesday afternoon (Apr. 12) at Evans Sports Complex.

Smith, a sophomore CF from Highlands (Redlands HS '13) sent a 1-0 deep to center field with the bases loaded off FC freshman reliever Austin Case (Yorba Linda) which enabled Cole, a sophomore from Palm Desert (Xavier Prep. '13), to score the winning run. Cole opened the ninth with a pinch hit single to right field, advanced to second on a hit-and-run and moved to third when sophomore 3B Anthony Ward (Fresno / Edison HS '14 / Reedley College) was hit by a picth which loaded the bases.

Once again, Riverside City (16-12 overall, 4-9 OEC) received solid pitching. RCC starting sophomore RHP Angel Delgado (Beaumont / Beaumont HS '13) went the first 8.0 innings and allowed three runs (all earned) on eight hits and five walks. Delgado struck out two, but left with a  no decision.

RCC sophomore RHP Andrew O'Brien (Corona / Corona HS '13) pitched the ninth and allowed one hit and struck out one to pick up the win and improve to 4-4. Fullerton reliever Nick Vega (Yorba Linda) opened the ninth and pitched one-third of an inning and allowed one run (earned) on one hit and one walk and the one hit batter.

Fullerton (21-7 overall, 9-4 OEC) starting sophomore RHP Randall Ortiz (Fullerton) went the first 8.0 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on nine hits and three walks. He struck out six in a no decision.

FC sophomore SS Justin Row (La Verne) went two for five to pace the Hornets. Sophomore 2B Laine Huffman (Placentia) had a two-run single in the seventh which gave FC a 3-1 lead.

Ward and Smith each went two for three for the Tigers.

Both teams return to action on Thursday, Apr. 14, when Riverside City visits Fullerton for the second game of this three-game OEC series. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.

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