IRVINE, Calif. – The Orange County Riptide defeated the San Diego Bombers 4-3 at The Great Park on Sunday night.
The Bombers started off hot with a pair of singles and a hit-by-pitch to quickly load the bases. Fortunately for the Riptide, starting pitcher Casey Euper (UC Santa Barbra) was able to limit the damage and only allow one run to score. In the bottom half of the first inning, Jake Evans (Cal State Long Beach) hit a leadoff single, followed by a walk from Tyler Holland (University of Arkansas) to immediately put pressure on the Bombers. Grant MacArthur (UCONN) was then able to hit a rocket up the middle to score Evans. Henry McDonald (Cal Poly) was able to tack on another run by hitting a sacrifice fly ball to right field to score Holland from third. At the end of the first inning, the score was 2-1 favoring the Riptide.
Third baseman Jake Evans with a leadoff single to get the Riptide started.
(Photo courtesy of Sergio Gonzalez)
The Riptide pitching was lights out for the next five innings. From the second through the sixth inning, the Riptide pitching staff allowed no hits, no runs, and struck out five. Jonathon Van Ness (Belmont University) struck out four batters and did not allow a hit through three innings. When asked about what his approach was before he stepped on the mound, he responded with the following, ”I was really just trying to go at them, trying to get ahead early. It’s pretty tough to pitch well when you’re always falling behind, just trying to get ahead early so I could pitch how I wanted.”
In the seventh inning, the Bombers were able to score one run courtesy of an RBI single. To respond, the Riptide got two runners on early from back-to-back walks. Carter Danz (Northwestern U) would then load the bases after a single to left field. First baseman Colby Moran (Hope International U) then drew a walk to bring in Evans and take the lead. The ‘Tide were able to score one more run after a sacrifice fly ball from McDonald. The Riptide led 4-2 after seven innings.
In the top of the ninth, the Bombers were able to score one run because of a wild pitch. The Riptide were successfully able to shut down the next three batters to end the game with a score of 4-3.
The Riptide will have Monday off but are back at it again Tuesday night at home against the San Diego Waves at 7:00 p.m.
