Big Fourth Inning Leads Baseball Past LA Pierce

Riverside squared up 13 hits leading to nine runs on Tuesday afternoon as they took on the Los Angeles Pierce College Brahams in non-conference action. All but two starters recorded at least one hit with sophomore starting pither David Bulter tossing a seven-inning gem leading to a 9-2 triumph.

The Tigers tacked on their first run in the top of the third inning after freshman designated hitter Derek Hurtado led the inning off with a triple. He came around to score on a passed ball to give them an early advantage.

However, the lead was quickly surrendered with the Brahams retaliating with two runs. It was the only time the Tigers would trail as a massive six run fourth inning quickly put LA Pierce to bed.

Sophomore right fielder Matthew Bardowell led off the top of the fourth inning with a single, backed by a base knock from sophomore second baseman Nathan Aldaz. Sophomore first baseman Jordan Ruiz loaded the bases by wearing a pitch, thus setting up a RBI opportunity for Hurtado. He came through by launching a sacrifice fly out to right field, plating Bardowell.

Freshman third baseman Jerrad Gonzlaez, who made his collegiate debut, kept the inning chugging with a two-RBI single a batter later to score Ruiz and Aldaz. Freshman shortstop Robert Phelps got in on the hot offensive action with a single and promptly swiped second base. Riverside ended the rally with sophomore center fielder Casey Murray Jr. tripling to score Phelps and Gonzalez leading to a 6-2 advantage.

Butler found his groove in the fourth inning by punching out the first two batters he faced, backed by a pop out to Aldaz at second base. He sat down the following six batters in order which featured another strikeout.

He gave way to freshman reliever Carson Summerfield in the bottom of the eighth inning. He slammed the door by allowing just two runners on and striking out three.

Prior to Summerfields light's out performance, the Tigers tacked on two more insurance runs in the seventh inning compliments of an RBI double from Bardowell and an RBI single from freshman pinch hitter Bryce Cermenelli. This led to the 9-2 win.

Butler (2-1) tossed seven innings while scattering six hits and two runs. He recorded a season-high nine strikeouts in the process. It was his longest outing of the season after failing to travel past five innings in his previous three starts.

Bardowell went 3-for-5 with a double and a RBI in his return to the lineup, while Murray Jr. went 2-for-5 with a triple, run scored and two RBI.

Aldaz pushed his hitting streak to four games after clocking in a 2-for-5 day at the dish. He is 10-for-17 (.588) in his last four starts.