Baseball Wins Series over Cypress Behind Offensive Surge & 14 Stolen Bases
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cypress | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 13 | 2 |
|
Riverside | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | X | 17 | 17 | 4 |
There were 81 at-bats, 28 runs, 30 hits, 12 pitchers and only three innings without runs scored in a game-three contest between the host Riverside City College baseball team and the Cypress College Chargers on Saturday afternoon. Riverside was able to outlast Cypress in an absolute marathon of a game that lasted four hours.
The Tigers took the series three games to two by winning the opening contest, 12-8, followed by closing out the final contest, 17-11. Riverside displayed a strong offensive showing by barreling 17 of the game's 30 hits. Additionally, the Tigers stole a season high 13 bases.
Freshman catcher Anthony Gibbons was slotted in the leadoff spot and went 3-for-4 with a double, three RBI and three runs scored. He led the terror on the base paths with a career-high four stolen bases. Sophomore center fielder Casey Murray Jr. followed with three stolen bases, while sophomore right fielder Matthew Bardowell and freshman second baseman Robert Phelps each pocketed two stolen bags. Sophomore first baseman Adrian Arechiga and sophomore left fielder Nathan Aldaz each bagged one as well.
Five players had two or more hits in the win with the offense being led by Arechiga. He went 4-for-6 with a double, career-high six RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base. He recorded his first RBI hit in the bottom of the first inning on a two out single up the middle, scoring Murray Jr. and Gibbons.
"I feel good and we feel good as a team," said Arechiga following the victory. "We never let up. We always keep coming back and competing. Pitch by pitch, at-bat by at-bat. No matter what the score is the approach is always the same."
He mirrored his single up the middle again in the bottom of the fifth inning, once again plating Murray Jr. and Gibbons. He capped his efforts in the bottom of the eighth inning by lacing a double to center field to score sophomore designated hitter Jordan Ruiz and Bardowell.
Murray Jr. went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Phelps and sophomore shortstop Sebastian Flores each barreled two hits.
The pitching efforts were subpar as all but one arm gave up at least two runs. Freshman reliever Alejandro Morales was the lone pitcher to be effective as he tossed 1.2 innings of shutout baseball. He struck out four batters and did not allow a hit.