Posted: Feb 26, 2013
Streaking Tigers Avenge Last Wednesday’s 3-2 Loss in Walnut
Mt. San Antonio
(7-4)
0
Riverside
(10-4)
1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mt. San Antonio | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
|
Riverside | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | X | 1 | 4 | 0 |
RIVERSIDE – Winning its fourth consecutive game, the host Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers men's baseball team scratched out a sixth-inning run en route to a 1-0 non-conference home win over the Mt. San Antonio College (MSAC) Mounties Tuesday evening at the Evans Sports Complex.
The win avenged a 3-2 loss last Wednesday (Feb. 20) at Mazmanian Field in Walnut. With its fourth consecutive win (following three straight losses), and third shut-out in its last four games, RCC improved to 10-4, while MSAC fell to 7-4.
Sophomore third-baseman Ricardo Rodriguez (Moreno Valley – Canyon Springs HS) had the game-winning RBI when he singled home sophomore pinch runner Cody Stewart (Temecula / Great Oak HS / UC Riverside) with one out in the sixth inning. Freshman LF Bryan Saucedo (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) opened the frame and was hit by the pitch. From there, Stewart was summoned to run for him and went to second on a passed ball. Freshman SS Nicolas King (Palm Springs / Palm Springs HS) then dropped down a bunt single right in front of home plate as Stewart raced to third to set the stage for Rodriguez, who drove a 1-1 pitch through the right side for a single to drive in Stewart.
King had three hits in four at-bats to lead the Tigers, who had only four hits in the game. MSAC also collected four hits, two by freshman RF Gabe Douglas (Green Valley HS) in his four at-bats.
RCC sophomore RHP Troy Scott (Lake Elsinore / Lakeside HS), who started the fifth inning in relief of sophomore starting RHP Blake Burrell (Moreno Valley / Canyon Springs HS), went 2-1/3 innings and allowed one hit and walk and struck out two to earn his first win (1-0) of the season. Sophomore transfer LHP Kenny Mathews (Diamond Bar / Diamond Bar HS / CSU Fullerton) pitched the final 1-1/3 innings and allowed one hit, but struck out two, to gain his second save. MSAC reliever, sophomore LHP Jerry Flores (Rowland Heights / Rowland HS), was the recipient of the loss (1-2).
Another quick game was played as this one took only 2:15 to play. With its tenth win in 14 games (and tenth low-run game), the Tigers are batting only .200 as a team (83 hits in 415 at-bats) but lowered their team earned run average (ERA) to 2.18 (30 earned runs in 124.0 innings). Conversely, RCC opponents are batting .221 (99 hits in 448 at-bats) with a team ERA of 2.44 (32 )earned run in 118.0 innings.
In its next action, RCC will open Orange Empire Conference (OEC) on Thursday, Feb. 28, when it visits the Irvine Valley College Lasers in a 2 p.m. start. MSAC will continue non-conference competition when it hosts the Ventura College Pirates on Saturday, Mar. 2, in a 1 p.m. first pitch