Posted: March 17, 2015 | Written by Edith Noriega

The Riverside City College baseball team had no trouble scoring four runs in the first two innings against the 2014 state champions, Orange Coast College, on March 17 before losing the lead and game, 9-5. It is the season loss to the Pirates this season after a bitter, 4-3, loss in extra innings during the first meeting of the series Feb. 26.

The Pirates kept things quiet up until the seventh inning when the team finally woke up from a daydream to blaze in six runs on only three hits and four infield errors to come up with a 6-4 lead.

That wasn’t all for the Tigers’ when they tried to narrow the deficit with Anthony Ayala taking a walk to start the eighth inning and Israel Fuentes RBI single to left field to give a close 6-5 game.

“We caved in, not mentally we just caved in with all the mistakes,” RCC coach Dennis Rodgers said. We were up four nothing most chances to score multiple chances to score runs and boom we allowed them back in the ball game.”

Once again Orange Coast proved the power of the bat posting three more runs in the top of the ninth to seal the game.

The Tigers’ travel to Orange Coast this Thursday March 19 to finish off the three game series.

RCC is in a much needed win and look to do so with starting pitcher Austin Sodders, who is 5-0 on the mound, 45. 1 IP and ERA 1.19.