Offensive Melee Leans Riverside’s Way in Southern Regional Round One

Heavy hitters were a theme on both sides in the opening game of a best of three series as the No. 3 Riverside City College baseball team played host to the No. 14 Grossmont College Griffins in the first round of the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Southern Regional playoffs. The Tigers and the Griffins went blow for blow at the dish, but a gutsy pitching performance from sophomore reliever Ryan Hernandez kept Grossmont at bay leading to a 12-9 victory.

Hernandez, who entered into the game in the top of the fifth inning, proved to be the most effective he has been all season. Grossmont was rolling after scoring nine runs in the first four innings, but the southpaw carved up the Griffins for the remainder of the game.

He began his outing by stranding a runner on third base via punch out. He continued on by striking out two more batters the following frame. He traveled into the seventh inning and cruised by retiring the next six batters in order. He capped his crucial outing by slamming the door in the ninth inning on a weak groundball to freshman third baseman Ignacio Alvarez, who made a great crashing play, leading to a 12-9 win.

In the midst of Hernandez's pitching performance, Riverside remained hot at the dish by relying on the early long ball in the first inning. I. Alvarez got the ball rolling by barreling a two RBI triple to right field, scoring freshman duo Julian Alvarez and Sebastian Flores.

One batter later, freshman right fielder Matthew Bardowell launched a 400-plus ft., two-run jack over the left center wall. The long ball was infectious as freshman first baseman Daniel Garcia followed two batters later by yanking a homerun over the right field wall. Freshman catcher Daniel Briones capped the melee of an inning with an RBI double down the right field line, scoring freshman second baseman Darius Price, leading to a 6-2 advantage.

Garcia continued to cart a hot bat in the bottom of the third inning by driving an RBI single to center field, plating freshman designated hitter Bret Bowers. Garcia later came around to score on a throwing error.

Two more runs came around to score for the Tigers in the bottom of the fourth inning compliments of a Bowers two RBI single to center field. He struck again to frames to follow with a single to left, scoring Bardowell. Freshman left fielder Adrian Arechiga concluded the scoring for Riverside with a single through the left side, scoring Bowers.

It was the third-consecutive game the Tigers scored double-digit runs and the fifth time in the last eight games that they squared up double-digit hits.

Bardowell went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a two-run homerun, two RBI and two runs scored, while Garcia went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored.

Hernandez (3-0) earned the win after chucking 4.1 scoreless innings and striking out a season-high six batters. He allowed a season-low one knock as well.

Riverside (30-11) will look to advance to the second round of the Southern Regional in game two of against the Griffins. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.