Bardowell Homers Twice, Baseball Sweeps Irvine Valley

After defeating Irvine Valley in the first two games of the series, the Riverside City College baseball team set the stage for its third-consecutive sweep. It was a pitcher's dual through the first five innings in the third game against the Lasers, but the Tiger offense came on strong to score six runs in the last four frames leading to a commanding 7-1 victory.

Riverside is the first to 20 wins in the state of California with today's win pushing their streak to 15-straight games. It has been a perfect concoction of strong pitching and timely offense. The Tigers displayed just that in today's victory.

Sophomore starting pitcher Albert Roblez took to the rubber for his first-career start after acting as the team's closer for the entire season. He retired the first nine batters he faced highlighted by striking out the side in order in the top of the first inning. He forced three-consecutive ground outs in the second inning, backed by fanning the last two batters in the third inning.

He allowed his first hit in the top of the fourth inning, but quickly retired three of the next four batters to work out of the inning.

The Tigers offense was led by the reigning Player of the Year and sophomore right fielder Matthew Bardowell. Bardowell entered the game in the top of the fifth inning and grounded out in his first at bat. However, the recouped and launched two towering homeruns. His first came in the bottom of the sixth inning with the game tied at 1-1. His three-run jack soared over the right center wall and ended up acting as the go-ahead knock. Sophomores Sebastian Flores and Adrian Arechiga scored on the round tripper.

"We are feeling good," said Bardowell. "This is the first time in school history that we have completed three sweeps in a row. We are going to keep building and not be complacent."

Bardowell had a strong approach after not seeing the field in the pervious two contests.

"Be aggressive, don't wait in the box too long and don't miss a good pitch."

He added another solo shot in the bottom of the eighth inning that hugged the left field foul pole.

Riverside scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning following Bardowell's homerun. Arechiga barreled a one-out single to score sophomore center fielder Casey Murray Jr., backed by an RBI single from freshman designated hitter Dominic Dominguez to score freshman second baseman Robert Phelps.

Freshman reliever Julian Cazares tossed 3.1 innings of strong relief and earned his first-career win. He struck out four batters and allowed just two hits. Roblez chucked 5.1 innings and fanned five batters.

Bardowell went 2-for-3 with two homeruns and four RBI. He now has five homeruns this season to lead his squad and the Orange Empire Conference (OEC).

Arechiga went 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and run scored. Freshman catcher Anthony Gibbons went 2-for-4 with an RBI. He went 2-for-6 with two extra base hit throughout the entire series.