Riverside Rings Up Four Three-run Innings, Routs Cypress, 12-1, Saturday

RIVERSIDE – The Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers baseball team scored three runs in each of four innings to power past the visiting Cypress College Chargers, 12-1, in the finale of a three-game Orange Empire Conference (OEC) series at Samuel C. Evans Park Saturday afternoon (Mar. 11).

Riverside City (14-6 overall, 2-1 OEC) scored a trio of runs in the first, second, third and seventh innings to win going away.

Sophomore 1B John Gonzalez (Corona – Corona HS '15) put RCC on the board when he drew a bases-loaded walk for a 1-0 lead. Sophomore 2B Garrett McKee (Hemet – Hemet HS '15) then laced a 0-1 pitch up the middle for a single to drive in two runs and RCC led, 3-0.

In the second, with two outs an infield s ingle and a walk set the stage for sophomore DH Ryan Mota (Fontana / Kaiser HS '14) who doubled to left field on a 1-2 to drive in two runs and the Tigers led, 5-0. Gomez singled home Mota and RCC led, 6-0.

In the third, sophomore CF Jack Bailey tripled to right field and scored on a RBI single by freshman SS Peter McEvoy (Colorado Springs, CO – Pine Creek HS '15). McEvoy later scored and Gomez added another RBI single and RCC led, 9-0.

In the seventh, Mota capped the scoring with a three-run home run which hit the bottom of the scoreboard and the Tigers led, 12-1. Mota went two for five with three runs scored and five RBI. Freshman LF Patrick Vizcaino (Chino – Don Lugo HS '14) went one for three, but scored four runs for RCC.

In the fifth for Cypress, a walk and fielder's choice set the stage for RF Logan Swofford who socked a 1-1 pitch for a RBI double to left-center field for the Chargers' only run.

RCC starting freshman LHP David Barela (Redlands – Redlands East Valley HS '15) went the first 6.0 innings. He allowed the one run (earned) on one hit, walked two and struck out five. Barela had a perfect game in the works until the lead-off walk in the fifth.

Cypress starting RHP Shaine McNeely lasted only 1-2/3 innings and allowed six runs (all earned) on six hits and three walks and had two strikeouts as his record fell to 2-2. Cypress is 14-5 overall, 1-2 OEC).

The game lasted 2:26.

Next, the Tigers will open a three-game OEC series on the road against the Fullerton College Hornets on Tuesday, Mar. 14. First pitch is at 2 p.m. (PDT).

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