It took extra innings to decide a winner on Sunday afternoon as the Riverside City College baseball team hosted the Cuesta College Cougars for the final game of a three-game series on Sunday afternoon. The Tigers had multiple opportunities to put the game away, but a 10th inning base knock from freshman designated hitter Dominic Dominguez sealed the deal leading to a 7-6 win.
After the Tigers failed to plate a run with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning, they had another opportunity in the free frame in attempt to etch their first win of the season.
After a quick out, sophomore center fielder Casey Murray Jr. reached base on a hit by pitch and promptly advanced to second on a wild pitch. Freshman first baseman Andrew Rodriguez advanced Murray Jr. to third base on a deep fly ball to right field in foul territory. This set the stage for sophomore right fielder Matthew Bardowell.
The Cougars elected to issue Bardowell his second intentional walk of the game, thus handing the reigns to Dominguez. He worked a 1-1 count and drove a hard ground ball up the middle that was too hot for the second baseman to handle. He bobbled the ball and did not attempt a throw to first. Murray Jr. trotted home to win the game.
The Tigers scored at least one run in the first five frames, but went cold at the dish the ensuing four innings. They pulled through when it mattered in the bottom of the 10th inning.
Murray Jr. was hot at the dish by going 4-for-5 with three doubles and three runs scored.
"Our pitching staff was a really big part of the game today," said Murray Jr. "All we asked for is our staff to just keep us within striking distance and our offense to just do what we do. We were able to get a win today."
The offense banged out 15 hits leading to seven runs after a stagnant opening two contests. The top of the lineup went 10-for-22 today after going 0-for-10 yesterday.
There was not much to write home about after this series, but Murray Jr. highlighted some key takeaways after the victory.
"Based off last year, we thought that we were just going to roll through like we did last year. But it's a different team and different year, but it's the same goal."
Sophomore shortstop Sebastian Flores went 2-for-5 with a run scored, while sophomore catcher Rei Shobuya and freshman third baseman Gage Gonzales each barreled two hits.
The best pitching performance came by way of the submarine throwing freshman reliever Colt Tucker. He entered in the top of the seventh inning for his collegiate debut and wiggled out of a bases-loaded jam by forcing an inning-ending flyout to right field. He went on to last 2.2 more innings while not allowing a single hit and striking out three batters leading to the win.
Freshman starter Anthony Silvas tossed the first two innings and punched out three while allowing two earned runs. Freshman southpaw Julian Cazares chucked 2.1 innings and issued five walks and struck out one batter. Sophomore Albert Roblez was responsible for the remaining 2.1 innings and allowed two runs on three hits while fanning three batters.