Tigers Take OEC Series From Dons

Riverside City College grabbed a crucial 6-2 victory over Santa Ana College Friday to win the Orange Empire Conference series and move into third place in the conference standings.

The Tigers improve to 23-11 on the year and 8-7 in conference, while the Dons drop to 25-8-1 overall, 9-6 in the OEC.

Santa Ana struck first with one run in the top of the first, but Riverside tied things up in the bottom of the second. With two runners on and two outs, Ian Nguyen (1-for-3) knocked an RBI single to even the score up, 1-1.

In their next chance at the plate, the Tigers capitalized again to take the lead. Dylan Nelson (2-for-4) and Richard Tejeda (3-for-4) had back-to-back RBI base hits before each coming home on a wild pitch, 5-1.

RCC added another insurance run in the bottom of the seventh, once again taking advantage of a Santa Ana mishap as Nelson scored on another wild pitch.

The Dons managed to plate one run in the eighth, but it was all Riverside would allow as Matt Hudson ended the game with a strikeout.

Julian Cazares grabbed the win on the mound for the Tigers, tossing two strikeouts in 5.2 innings of action, while Hudson also had two strikeouts in one inning to help secure the victory.

The Tigers head to Fullerton College on Tuesday at 2 p.m., looking to build on their two-game winning streak.