No. 17 Baseball Sweeps Irvine Valley

Both teams came out swinging in the final game of a three-game series on Friday afternoon that featured the No. 17 Riverside City College baseball team and the Irvine Valley College Lasers. Both sides banged out 16 hits, but Riverside capitalized with runners in scoring position after IVC stranded 14 runners on base leading to a 12-7 victory.

Despite the Tigers leaving 13 runners on base, they still managed to push across 12 runs leading to their 10^th double-digit scoring game of the season.

Seven started barreled at least one hit, but the offensive assault was led by the three-headed outfield monster consisting of freshman trio Julian Alvarez, Matthew Bardowell and Brian West.

The trio combined for an astounding 8-for-12 that featured seven RBI and four runs scored.

Alvarez, who current holds a nine-game hitting streak, notched his third multi-hit game in his last five games. During his nine-game hitting streak, he has also scored nine times and has driven in nine runs to prove his versatility.

Bardowell is carting a five game hitting streak and has driven in 12 runs throughout that stretch. The power hitting right fielder has recorded three multi-hit games in the last five showdowns and has barreled four or more hits in two of those games. Currently, leads his squad with a .402 batting average and a .670 slugging percentage.

After entering into the series on a 2-for-9 slump in the last six games, West exploded this series by going 5-for-8 with two extra base hits. He capped the series on a 3-for-4 note and barreled his second double in the last two games.

Riverside never let up on the offensive end highlighted by scoring five runs in the seventh inning. Freshman second baseman Darius Price barreled a two RBI double to get things going, backed by a two RBI single by J. Alvarez a batter later. Freshman designated hitter Bret Bowers drew a base juiced walk to cap the five run frame.

The pitching performance was shaky as freshman Jordan Townley earned his second consecutive game three start. He struggled by allowing five runs on seven hits in 3.2 innings of action. Freshman Albert Roblez, who entered in the fifth inning, earned the win after tossing two innings and scattering five hits. He fanned three to lead all Tiger pitchers.

Freshman Philip Ledesma tossed a strong seventh inning by recording two strikeouts, while freshman Hayden Coon tossed a scoreless bottom of the ninth inning to seal the deal.