No. 17 Baseball Pushes Two Across in Ninth to Beat Lasers

It was a tied ball game entering into the ninth inning after the Riverside City College baseball team surrendered an early three-run lead to the Irvine Valley College Lasers. The Tigers rallied to out two runners on base with one out in the top of the ninth inning and push two runs across leading to a 7-5 win.

After a quick first out in the top of the ninth inning, freshman second baseman Ramsses Fierro got the momentum flowing with a base hit to center field. Freshman first baseman Daniel Garcia followed with a single through the right side to set up a first and third situation.

Freshman pinch hitter Brian West followed by laying down a bunt that forced an error by the Laser's pitcher, allowing Fierro to come around and score. Freshman shortstop Sebastian Flores came up clutch two batters later with an infield single to the shortstop, plating Garcia, leading to a 7-5 advantage.

Freshman reliever Hayden Coon came in and slammed the door despite giving up a leadoff walk. He rebounded by forcing a double play and then a dribbler back to the mound lading to the victory.

On the mound, the Tigers were spotty to start. Freshman starting pitcher Giancarlo Flores had his shortest outing of the season by going just three innings and allowing three earned runs. However, the backend of the bullpen picked him up as freshman Chaz McWilliams took over in the fifth and tossed three scoreless innings allowing just three hits and fanning two batters.

Coon (2-1) earned the win after two strong innings of work.

Offensively, the Tigers barreled 10 hits highlighted by a three spot to start the game.

Freshman designated hitter Brett Bowers gave the Tigers an early cushion by connecting for a two RBI double, scoring freshman third baseman Ignacio Alvarez and Flores in the top of the first inning. Freshman catcher Maxwell Shor capped the inning with an RBI ground out, plating freshman right fielder Matthew Bardowell.

Riverside added two more in the top of the sixth inning with Bardowell blasting his third triple of the season into right center field, scoring I. Alvarez. Bowers recorded his third RBI of the game with a ground out to shortstop.