Butler Snags Seventh Win on the Mound as Tigers Tame Pirates
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Orange Coast | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 2 |
|
Riverside | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | X | 5 | 9 | 1 |
After the Riverside City College baseball team jumped out to an early lead, a pitcher's duel took shape as they hosted the Orange Coast College Pirates in game two of a three-game series. Freshman gunslinger David Butler took to the mound and tossed a gem leading the Tigers to a 5-3 victory.
Butler, who has recorded an Orange Empire Conference (OEC) leading six wins, toed the slab for the seventh time this season, was on point from the get go. Aside from allowing a first-inning walk, he rebounded by retiring 11 consecutive batters which included two strikeouts. He scattered just five hits throughout his entire outing.
The Tigers' offense got off to a strong start by scoring three runs in the first inning to provide Butler with a comfortable cushion. They loaded the bases with nobody out and scored their first run on a ground ball error that was put in play by freshman first baseman Daniel Garcia, scoring freshman center fielder Julian Alvarez. Freshman third baseman Ignacio Alvarez, who reached base via walk, followed by touching home on a passed ball. Freshman left fielder Matthew Bardowell capped the scoring by coming across the dish on an infield single from freshman left fielder Casey Murray to hand the Tigers a 3-0 lead.
They continued their offensive prowess by scratching across another run the following inning on a single up the middle from J. Alvarez. Freshman second baseman Beau Betten scored on the base hit after leading the inning off with a hit by pitch.
Riverside's offense went stagnant for the following four innings, but Butler did not. He finished his seven innings of work by forcing a ground out to Garcia. Garcia then caught a runner in a rundown that was completed by I. Alvarez to keep the Pirates off the scoreboard.
Sophomore reliever Jon Mocherman entered in the top of the eighth inning and fanned two batters. He had a rocky ninth inning, but was able to wiggle out of damage leading to his first save of the season and a 5-3 Riverside win.
Butler (7-0) was the catalyst to the win by tossing seven scoreless innings. Bardowell went 4-for-4 with an RBI, while J. Alvarez went 1-for-2 with an RBI and two runs scored.
