Spencer’s First-Career Knock Hands Tigers a Walk Off Win

The Riverside City College baseball team trailed for the majority of the time in a game against the Grossmont College Griffins. Riverside remained patient and rallied back behind strong relief pitching and a handful of crucial at bats leading to a 7-6 walk off win.

The biggest at-bat came in the bottom of the ninth inning when freshman first baseman Seth Spencer dug into the box with the game winning run on second base. Spencer, who entered in the second inning, turned out to be the difference in game as he launched a game-winning double to right-center field to plate freshman left fielder Disani Mukasa-Wilson. It was Spencer's sixth at-bat of the season and his first career RBI and hit.

Riverside was the first to score as seen in a two-run bottom of the first inning, but the Griffins stormed back etch a five spot on the scoreboard in the top of the second inning in response.

Despite the early deficit, a strong relief showing by freshman southpaw Ryan Hernandez kept the Tigers in the ball game. The crafty lefty entered with one out in the top of the second and followed by retiring the ensuing 10 batters he faced. He only allowed one batter to land in scoring position, which came in the top of the sixth inning, but he eventually stranded him by fanning the following two batters.

Hernandez stopped the bleeding and the Tiger's offense rewarded him with a three spot in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Freshman right fielder Matthew Darr came up clutch and pushed across the go-ahead run with a diving single to shallow right field, plating sophomore center fielder Dylan Morace. Sophomore third baseman Matthew Ivancich followed by reaching on a fielder's choice, allowing sophomore catcher Steve Ramirez to touch home to tie the game up at 5-5.

Freshman reliever Ryan Dominguez relieved Hernandez in the top of the seventh and chucked a scoreless frame. Riverside responded the ensuing half inning by taking the lead compliments of a two-out RBI knock from Morace, bringing the score to 6-5.

Sloppy play in the top of the ninth inning squandered an opportunity for the Tigers to end the game as wild pitch allowed Grossmont to force a bottom of the ninth.

Nevertheless, Spencer's first hit came at a perfect time leading to the 7-6 win.

Freshman reliever Josiah Torres (1-0) came away with the win after tossing 1.1 innings and punching out three batters. Hernandez anchored the bullpen after tossing 4.2 innings of scoreless ball while allowing a mere hit and recording four strikeouts.

Darr paced the offense by going 4-for-5 with a double, three RBI and a run scored. He currently holds a six game hitting streak and has gone 12-for-22 (.545) in his last six games.

Riverside (11-2) will finish off a two-game series against Grossmont (5-6) on the road Thursday, February 20 at 2 p.m.