Posted: Apr 12, 2013
Two-run Sixth is the Difference in Tigers’ 4-2 Home Win over Orange Coast
Orange Coast
(21-10, 9-7)
2
Riverside
(20-11, 9-7)
4
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Orange Coast | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 2 |
|
Riverside | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | X | 4 | 7 | 2 |
RIVERSIDE – Pushing across the go-ahead and insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, the host Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers men's baseball team eked out a 4-2 Orange Empire Conference (OEC) victory over the Orange Coast College Pirates (OCC) Friday afternoon at the Evans Sports Complex.
The win by Riverside (20-11, 9-7 OEC) forged a tie for second place with Orange Coast (21-10, 9-7 OEC) with five games remaining in the regular season.
In the sixth with one out, sophomore 3B Ricardo Rodriguez (Moreno Valley / Canyon Springs HS) reached first on a fielding error by Pirate freshman SS Greg Espinosa (Yucaipa HS). Freshman LF David Schuknecht (Palm Desert / Palm Desert HS / U. of Arizona) was hit by a pitch to put Tigers at first and second. Freshman CF K.C. Huth (La Verne / Bonita HS) singled to right field to drive in Rodriguez as Schuknecht raced to third. Another fielding error by Espinosa off the bat of freshman DH Changeng Varela (Chino / Chino HS) drove in Schuknecht for a 4-2 lead.
OCC scored single unearned runs in the third and sixth innings to forge a short-lived 2-2 tie. In the third, Espinosa walked, advanced to third while running on the pitch on an infield out and scored when Rodriguez delivered a high throw to first on an infield grounder. In the sixth, DH Christian Salina reach first on an infield single to the mound and advanced to second on an overthrow by Rodriguez. Salina went to third on a groundout and scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore 3B Manny Argomaniz.
In the first for RCC, Freshman SS Nick King (Palm Springs / Palm Springs HS) and freshman RF Joshua Clark (Los Angeles / Hillcrest Christian HS) scored, respectively, on a Schuknecht sacrifice fly, and a wild pitch.
Sophomore RHP Edgar Gomez (Indio / Indio HS / Long Beach State) went the first seven innings for RCC. He allowed two runs (both unearned) on five hits and two walks. He struck out four and improved to 7-1. Sophomore LHP Kenny Mathews (Diamond Bar / Diamond Bar HS / CSU Fullerton) came on in the ninth and retired the side in order on a strikeout and two groundouts to notch his third save. OCC freshman starting RHP Joe Reta (Villa Park HS) went the first seven innings as well and allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits and zero walks along with three strikeouts, but saw his record fall to 2-2.
Both teams face each other to conclude the three-game season series on Tuesday, April 16, at 2 p.m.in Costa Mesa.