Gonzalez and Mota Sock Home Runs as Riverside Blanks East L.A., 9-0, Friday

RIVERSIDE -- John Gonzalez socked a solo home run in the top of the first inning and Ryan Mota blasted a three-run home run in the sixth inning to power the Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers baseball team to a 9-0 non-conference home win over the visiting East Los Angeles College (ELAC) Huskies Friday (Feb. 10) afternoon at Samuel C. Evans Park.

Riverside City (6-3) jumped to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first frame when Gonzalez, a sophomore 1B from Corona (Corona HS '15), deposited the first pitch he saw over the right-field fence for his team-leading second home run of the season.

The Tigers sandwiched single runs in the third and fifth innings around a two-run output in the fourth frame for a 5-0 lead before Mota, a sophomore DH from Fontana (Kaiser HS '14), slugged a three-run home run with two outs for an 8-0 RCC lead. Riverside added a run in the eighth for the final 9-0 score.

Mota went two for five with two runs scored and three RBI. Gonzalez went one for four with three runs and one RBI. The Tigers pounded out 13 hits.

RCC freshman starting RHP Matt Acosta (San Bernardino - Cajon HS '14) -- who is pictured -- went the first 8.0 innings for the Tigers. He scattered three hits, struck out eight and walked none to level his record to 1-1. 

For East Los Angeles (6-1 overall), freshman DH Thomas Acuna (Pomona HS) went two for four. ELAC starting sophomore RHP Alex Carrillo (West Covina HS) lasted the first 3.0 innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits, two walks and struck out two as his record fell to 1-1.

Both teams will face each other on Saturday, Feb. 11, when ELAC hosts RCC in a 5 p.m. first pitch.

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