No. 3 Tigers Barrel Four-Consecutive Hits & Plate Three Runs in Ninth to Defeat No. 1 Saddleback

The No. 3 Riverside City College baseball team kicked off a three-game series against the No. 1 Saddleback City College Gauchos in Orange Empire Conference (OEC) action on Tuesday afternoon at Evans Sports Complex. The Tigers and Gauchos found themselves in an old-fashion grind by trading runs and displaying strong pitching. After Saddleback etched a pair of runs in the top of the ninth inning, it was the Tigers who put up a three spot in the bottom of the ninth leading to a 5-4 victory in walk off fashion.

Freshman left fielder Joseph Hodapp (Murrieta, CA) handed the Tigers their first run of the game in the bottom of the third with a single up the middle, scoring freshman left fielder Junior Coleman (San Diego, CA) to grab a one run lead.

Sophomore right hander Daniel Martinez (Riverside, CA) graced the mound in his biggest start of the season. He was untouchable for the first five frames by fanning seven batters and not allowing a single hit. The Gauchos finally etched a hit in the top of the sixth after freshman third baseman Jacob Rodriguez (Walnut, CA) almost made a highlight reel play by diving to his left and being a second late on the throw to first base.

After barreling their first hit, the Gauchos followed by plating two runs to grab the lead and put Riverside in a small hole.

Riverside pushed across a run in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game at two apiece as sophomore shortstop Shane Martinez (Riverside, CA) touched home on a sacrifice fly to center fielder from sophomore catcher Andrew Jurado (Riverside, CA) to bring the score to two-all.  

In a tie ball game, the Gauchos pulled ahead in the top of the ninth by etching a two-spot to put pressure on the Tigers offense.

The Tigers got to work in the bottom of the ninth despite an early inning out. Sophomore center fielder Erick Rayford (Chino Hills, CA) barreled an RBI triple to left-center fielder, scoring S. Martinez who reached base via error, to get the offensive wheels churning. After a single from Jurado, Coleman came up clutched and punched the game-winning RBI single over the right-fielder's head, who was playing shallow, scoring freshman second baseman Diego Guerrero (Maracaibo, Venezuela) leading to the victory.

S. Martinez went 1-for-4 with two runs scored, while Coleman came up with the clutch poke. Freshman reliever Michael Coppens earned his third victory out of the bullpen after pitching just one third of an inning and recording a fly ball out. D. Martinez led the staff with eight strikeouts while carrying a no hitter late into the sixth inning.

The No. 3 Tigers (16-5, 3-1 OEC) will continued the three game series on the road Thursday, March 15^th against the No. 1 Gauchos at 2 p.m.