Baseball Wins Rubber Match, Completes Series against Cuesta

After falling to the Cougars on Friday, the Riverside City College baseball team found themselves in a rubber match in a three-game series against Cuesta College. The Tigers trailed early, but a timely offense and a strong bullpen down the stretch handed them a 6-3 win and a series victory.

Cuesta jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, but the Tigers answered in the top of the third inning by plating two runs.

Freshman center fielder Julian Alvarez came around to score on an error from the Cougar's third baseman after leading the inning off with a single. Freshman third baseman Ignacio Alvarez touched home on a sacrifice fly from freshman left fielder Brian West leading to a two-all score.

Cuesta added one more in the bottom of the third, but Riverside answered with clutch two-out hitting leading to four runs in the following three frames. Each run scored in the fourth inning and beyond was recorded with two outs.

J. Alvarez kept the offensive train chugging by barreling a two-out solo homerun in the fourth inning to extend their lead. Sophomore shortstop Darius Price connected for a RBI double in the top of the fifth inning, scoring freshman second baseman Adrian Arechiga and I. Alvarez. Freshman right fielder Matthew Bardowell capped the Tigers scoring with a two-out single in the top of the sixth inning, plating I. Alvarez.

Cuesta's offense was shut down from the fourth inning on compliments of sophomore reliever Ryan Dominguez. After relieving freshman starter Albert Roblez in the fourth inning, he chucked two scoreless innings and did not allow a single hit despite issuing three free passes.

Freshman closer Hayden Coon slammed the door by chucking three shutout innings and allowing a mere two base knocks.

J. Alvarez collected his second multi hit game in three days by going 2-for-5 with a solo shot and two runs scored. Bardowell went 2-for-5 with a RBI, while Price went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI.