Riverside Earns Revenge Against Cuesta in 3-2 Win

The Riverside City College baseball team hosted Cuesta College in the second game of a three-game series at home on Friday evening. After Cuesta jumped out to an early one-run lead, the Tigers worked to plate a total of three runs in the fourth and fifth innings combined en route to a 3-2 victory.

Sophomore right hander Daniel Martinez (Riverside, CA) climbed the hill for the start and looked for revenge against Cuesta who handed him his lone loss on the season in late January. The Tiger's ace allowed just five hits through six innings pitched en route to seven strikeouts. Both runs that came across against him were unearned.

The Tigers broke through in the runs column in the bottom of the fourth inning compliments of a single from freshman left fielder Joseph Hoddap (Murrieta, CA), scoring freshman right fielder Junior Coleman (San Diego, CA).

Riverside added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning compliments of an errant throw from the pitcher allowing sophomore catcher Andrew Jurado (Riverside, CA) to race home. Sophomore center fielder Erick Rayford (Chino Hills, CA) later scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of freshman pinch hitter Kase Warner (Norco, CA) leading to a 3-1 advantage.

Despite Cuesta trimming the deficit to one run with a run in the seventh inning, freshman closer Graham Kuck (Corona, CA) entered the game in the eighth and slammed the door en route to a 3-2 win.

Martinez (3-1) earned the victory after striking out seven batters and allowing no earned runs through six innings. Kuck earned his second save of the season after striking out a trio of batters.

Freshman first baseman Dylan Kanoho (Honolulu, HI) went 1-for-3 in his return from injury, while Rayford went 1-for-3 with a run scored

The Tigers (9-2) will hoist Cuesta (5-5) in a rubber match on Saturday, February 17^th at home at noon.