Baseball Downs Orange Coast for 10th Straight Win

After sweeping the Golden West College Rustlers last week, the Riverside City College baseball team entered into the first game of a three-game series against the Orange Coast College Pirates on Monday afternoon. Despite being outhit, the Tigers jumped on the Pirates early and never trailed leading to a 3-2 victory.

Sophomore starting pitcher Hayden Coon climbed the bump as the opening-game starter for the first time in his career. He got off to a strong start by not even throwing a ball to the first five batters of the game. He retired those first five batters in order which featured a strikeout for the second out of the game.

Riverside scored in the first inning to set the tone as freshman second baseman Robert Phelps barreled a single to center field then promptly stole second base. He quickly found himself on third base after a wild pitch. He came around to score a batter later on a sacrifice flyout from sophomore designated hitter Matthew Bardowell to grab a 1-0 lead.

After the Pirates pushed across their first run in the top of the third inning, the Tigers responded with a run of their own in the bottom half.

Phelps stayed hot at the dish and led the inning off with another single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. His baserunning continued to shine as he forced an errant throw from the Orange Coast first baseman after Bardowell grounded out to third base. He took off to third base on the thorwn and forced an arrant throw from the Pirates' first baseman which allowed Phelps to trot home, pushing Riverside's lead to 2-1.

Coon continued to shove as he retired the side in the fourth inning and forced a huge double play ball in the fifth inning that was beautifully turned by sophomore shortstop Sebastian Flores and Phelps. Furthermore, he sat down the Pirates in order in the sixth inning capped by a punchout.

Orange Coast tallied another run in the seventh inning largely due to an error kin right field, but errors in the outfield became infectious. Sophomore center fielder Casey Murray Jr. drove a ball to center field for a two-out single in the bottom half of the seventh inning. The ball got away from the Orange Coast center fielder which allowed sophomore pinch hitter Bryce Cermenelli to scurry home leading to a 3-2 advantage.

Sophomore closer Albert Roblez relieved Coon in the eighth inning and slammed the door. Despite giving up back to back hits with one out in his eighth inning, he was able to wiggle his way out of a jam as seen in a strikeout and a groundout. He went one-two-three in the ninth inning leading to his first save of the season and a 3-2 win.

Coon (3-2) earned the win after throwing seven innings while scattering seven hits and fanning four. His two runs against him were both unearned. Robles earned the save after tossing two frames and punching out three batters.

Phelps went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a stolen base, while sophomore catcher Rei Shobuya barreled two hits in three at bats. Bardowell had the lone RBI despite going hitless.