Tuthill Tosses Six Innings, Strikes Out NIne and Yields Only Two Hits in 6-1 Win Over West L.A. Saturday Night

RIVERSIDE -- Blake Tuthill yielded only two hits and struck out nine in his six innings of work and the Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers baseball team posted a 6-1 non-conference home win over the visiting West Los Angeles College (WLAC) Wildcats at the Samuel C. Evans Sports Complex Saturday evening (Feb. 4).

Tuthill, a sophomore starting LHP from Redlands (Redlands East Valley HS '14), allowed only a squibber of a single one a comebacker in the top of the first inning and then saw his quest for a shutout end early on a solo home run in the top of the second inning.

Tuthill also struck out nine and walked none in his 6.0 innings. Earlier in the week, Tuthill was named Southern California Regional Pitcher of the Week, thanks to his 5.0-inning start (no hits, five strikeouts, two walks) in a 13-2 win at Cuesta last Sunday (Jan. 29).

Riverside City (4-3 overall) led, 1-0, when freshman CF Paul Rojas (Redlands - Redlands East Valley HS '16) doubled to right-center field, stole third with one out and scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore RF Dean Miller (Riverside / Ramona HS '15). Rojas went one for four with two runs scored and Miller drove in two runs in two at bats. Through seven games, Miller -- who is pictured -- leads the Tigers in batting at .414 (12 for 29 with three doubles).

West Los Angeles (0-5 overall) tied the game at 1-1 when sophomore RF Gary Dixon (Santa Monica / Santa Monica HS) socked a 0-1 offering from Tuthill over the left-center field fence for a home run to lead off the top of the second. WLAC sophomore starting RHP Manuel Garcia (Hawthorne / Lawndale HS) lasted the first 4.0 innings and allowed six hits, all six runs (four earned) as his record dipped to 0-2. 

RCC sophomore catcher Peter Gomez (Eastvale - Eleanor Roosevelt HS '14) went two for three with one run scored and one RBI.

The Tigers return to action on Tuesday, Feb. 7, when they host the Los Angeles Pierce College (LAPC) Brahmas in a non-conference game at 5 p.m.

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