Saddleback Slips Past Riverside, 8-7, Saturday in OEC Makeup Game

RIVERSIDE -- The visiting Saddleback College Gauchos bounced back from a six-run deficit and edged the host Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers softball team, 8-7, in an Orange Empire Conference (OEC) game Saturday afternoon (Apr. 22) at Brown Field (Samuel C. Evans Park).

Saddleback (21-15 overall, 11-8 OEC) trailed, 7-1, after four innings, but then exploded for seven runs in the top of the sixth inning to turn the game around. In the sixth, catcher Reis Birkett doubled and scored to open the frame. Next, RF Amanda Padilla singled to drive in a run and eventually came around to score.

DP Haley Rose had a RBI double and also scored before Birkett came around to bat a second time in the inning and socked a two-run double down the left-field line to give the Gauchos the lead for good. Bickett went three for four with one run scored and two RBI to pace Saddleback.

Riverside City (18-19 overall, 8-11 OEC) was paced by sophomore 1B Emily Wilcox (Alta Loma - Alta Loma HS), who is pictured, who went three for three with two doubles.

Saddleback RHP Carley Buonarico entered the game in the bottom of the fifth with the Gauchos trailing, 7-1, and pitched the final 3.0 innings to pick the win and improve to 3-0 as she allowed only two hits and struck out two. Sophomore RHP Laura Mendez came on in relief with one out in the top of the sixth and allowed three runs (earned) on three hits in 1-2/3 innings to sustain the loss (11-11).

Next, the Tigers will visit the Santiago Canyon College Hawks on Monday, Apr. 24, in a OEC game at 3 p.m. before hosting the Golden West College Rustlers in a 6 p.m. OEC start on Wednesday, Apr. 26.

-30-