Posted: Apr 24, 2014
Tigers Top Cypress, 5-4, in Eight Innings; Sweep Season Series
Cypress
(28-12, 12-9)
4
Riverside
(28-11, 16-5)
5
| Final (8) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cypress | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 4 |
|
Riverside | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 1 |
RIVERSIDE -- Austin Schmidt drove in the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Riverside City College Tigers to a 5-4 Orange Empire Conference home victory over the Cypress College Chargers Wednesday evening (Apr. 23) at Brown Field (Evans Sports Complex). It was the regular season finale for both clubs.
The win also gave the Tigers a three-game sweep of the seasonal series over the Chargers for the first time in recent memory.
Schmidt, a sophomore RF from Riverside / Notre Dame HS, smacked a ground ball to third base which was misplayed for an error, enabling pinch runner Crystal Villa to score the winning run with no outs.
Riverside (28-11, 16-5) opened the eighth inning when frosh C Selena Duran (Riverside / Arlington HS) reached first base on the first of two errors by sophomore 3B Alendrina Pichardo (Whittier). Breanna Valles followed with a bunt single. Duran then advanced to third base on a throwing error while Valles went to second on the throw. After an intentional walk to Kaylee Garcia to load the bases, Schmidt then sent a 3-1 pitch which rolled up Pichardo's arm and enabled Villa to score.
Frosh 2B Jessica Valenzuela (Rialto / Aquinas HS) drove in runs in the first (sacrifice fly), third (single) and fifth (single) innings to pave the Tigers.
RCC freshman starting RHP MacKenzie Maxwell (Calimesa / Yucaipa HS) went the distance (eight innings), allowing four runs (all earned) on 12 hits and zero walks. She also struck out six to improve to 13-4.
Cypress' originally listed starting RHP Desiree Lopez (Santa Ana), didn't come into the circle until the bottom of the sixth. In the final 1-2/3 innings, Lopez allowed one run (unearned) on one hit and one walk (intentional) and struck out three as her record fell to 18-11.
Cypress (28-12, 12-9 OEC) was led by frosh SS Khailey Campos (Fountain Valley HS) who went three for five, including a two-run home run in the top of the third inning which gave the Chargers a short-lived 2-1 lead.
Both teams await word on receiving a Southern California Regional playoff berth. The seedings will be announced on Saturday, Apr. 26.
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