No. 17 Baseball Takes Rubber Match against Santa Ana

For the second-consecutive game, the No. 17 Riverside City College baseball team pounded out double-digit runs and the third time in Orange Empire Conference (OEC) action. Today's victim was the Santa Ana College Dons in the rubber match of a three game series leading to a 14-3 victory.

The Tigers connected for 15 hits and scored in all but three innings. Freshman right fielder Matthew Bardowell stayed hot and got the Tigers on the board in the first inning with a two-out RBI single to right field, plating freshman shortstop Sebastian Flores.

The RBI train continued chugging as Flores got in on the action with a two-RBI double down the left field line to score freshman left fielder Casey Murray and freshman second baseman Darius Price. They poured three more runs on two innings later as freshman center fielder Julian Alvarez connected for a RBI single up the middle, scoring the duo of Murray and Price once again, leading to a 6-0 lead.

Santa Ana responded with a two spot in the top of the fifth inning, but consecutive four sports in the fifth and sixth innings from the Tigers was the ultimate nail in the Dons coffin.

Murray got things going in the top of the fifth inning by launching a sacrifice fly to center field, plating freshman designated hitter Brett Bowers. Flores followed with a bases loaded walk two batters later and Price touched home on an obstruction call by the catcher. Bardowell recorded another RBI by being hit by pitch, allowing J. Alvarez to score.

The Dons handed the Tigers the first run of their second-consecutive four-run inning on an errant throw, allowing freshman catcher Maxwell Short to cross home plate. Murray backed the play with a two-RBI single, followed by a sacrifice ground out off the bat of Flores, eventually leading to the 14-3 trouncing.

Freshman Jordan Townely earned his first start of the year and tossed four strong innings. He fanned four batters in the process. Three relievers closed out the game highlighted by 2.1 scoreless innings from sophomore Ryan Hernandez and a solid ninth inning from freshman Philip Lesdma. Ledsma fanned two, while Hernandez punched out one.

All but one starter had at least one hit on the night. Flores went 3-for-4 with two doubles, four RBI and two runs scored to highlight the bunch. Murray went 2-for-2 with three RBI.