Compton, Calif. – The Orange County Riptide allowed an early lead to slide away from them with the Barons winning in the bottom of the ninth, 5-4 Thursday night at Compton College.
Trajan Rogowski starts the game string with a double, quickly followed by a smashing home run by Jarett Sabol to score the first two runs of the game.
“I always keep that positive self talk and just try to put my best swing on the baseball,” Sabol said. “My first instinct is always just to try to get to second base as quickly as possible.”
The Riptide continue to hold their two point lead until the bottom of the third inning. Barons ight fielder Chip Mertz hits a single deep into right field, bringing Kaden Durazo home.
After the fourth and fifth innings pass with no runs, the Riptide scores two runs with back-to-back RBI doubles by Conner Barth and Justin Tillar.
The three point lead for the Riptide doesn’t last long. The Barons bring in three runs during the bottom of the eighth inning, tying the game 4-4.
“In the eighth inning we weren’t getting ahead on the mound.” Riptide Head Coach Bryan Evans said, “[The Barons] don’t strikeout a lot. They put the ball in play.”
The Barons center fielder Eiji Sawamura ends the game with a walk off run, bringing home the win with a hard fought comeback.
The Riptide is now 12-6 and will play at Great Park tomorrow, Friday, June 26.
First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
