Bardowell Hits for the Cycle in Slugfest against Santa Ana

There were a combined 24 runs and 33 hits in the second game of a three game series featuring the Riverside City College baseball team and the Santa Ana College Dons.  The Tiger scored in nearly every inning highlighted by a seven-run fifth inning leading to a 15-9 slugfest victory.

After going 0-for-4 with four strikeouts on Tuesday, sophomore right fielder Matthew Bardowell rebounded in a huge way by hitting for the cycle. He finished the day going 4-for-6 with three runs scored and five RBI.

Bardowell got his first hit in the top of the first inning which went for an RBI single up the middle, scoring freshman shortstop Sebestian Flores, to hand the Tigers the lead. In his second at bat in the top of the third inning, he smashed a one-out triple to left center field and eventually came around to score on an RBI single from freshman designated hitter Bret Bowers.

He continued on in the top of the fifth inning and put an exclamation mark on a seven-run frame by launching a two out, three-run blast to left center field, plating freshman third baseman Ignacio Alvarez and Flores, to hand Riverside a 13-7 advantage.

After being retired in the top of the seventh inning, Bardowell dug in in the top of the ninth with one out and just a two-bagger shy of the cycle. He not only connected for the cycle-completing double, but sent I. Alvarez home for his fifth RBI of the game.

The fifth inning was the back breaker as the Tigers plated seven total runs. The Tigers quickly loaded the bases after consecutive singles from Bowers and freshman catcher Maxwell Shot. Freshman second baseman Darius Price was hit by pitch to set up an RBI opportunity for freshman first baseman Ramesses Fiero. He came through with a sacrifice fly out to center, scoring Bowers.

Flores followed two batters later by drawing a two out walk, plating Shor, backed by a two-RBI single from I. Alvarez to send freshman left fielder Casey Murray and Price home. Bardowell capped the inning with the three-run dinger leading to a 15-9 win.

Freshman starting pitcher David Butler (2-0) got the win on the mound despite a subpar performance. He lasted just 3.2 innings allowing four runs and striking out two.

All relief pitchers allowed at least one run. Freshman Luis Sakemi Sato tossed 1.1 innings and fanned three, while freshman Albert Roblez closed it out by tossing 2.2 innings and allowing two hits. He recorded four punch outs in the process.