VENTURA, Calif. – After battling back from two-down late, the Orange County Riptide endured a gut-punch of a loss to the Conejo Oaks, 5-3, at Ventura College. The Oaks responded immediately to the Riptide’s late rally, striking a two-run homer that shut down all Riptide momentum.
The culprit, Tyson Reis, homered twice in the game for the Oaks. Reis collected four hits and four RBIs throughout the evening.
Orange County struggled to get runners on base through the first seven innings. In six of the seven innings, the Riptide hitters went down in-order. Oaks starting pitcher Hunter Hammond gave up one hit and one unearned run through five innings. The Riptide collected two hits total up until the eighth inning rally.
“They were working quick and throwing off-speed for strikes. They were keeping our guys off-balance, getting weak contact and filling up the zone,” said Riptide head coach Bryan Evans. “They didn’t fall behind too many guys.”
Trajan Rogowski was responsible for the sole unearned run – as he led off with a single in the fourth and eventually came home on a passed ball.
The Riptide finally broke through in the top of the eighth. Alonso Reyes reached on an error, followed by a Travis Curry infield single that set up two on, no outs. Slater Nunez then laid a sacrifice bunt, pushing Curry and Reyes into scoring position for Reid Montgomery – and Montgomery did the rest. Montgomery lined a single to left, tying the game.
“I spit on two sliders to start the bat,” Montgomery said. “I was pretty confident a fastball was coming – and it did. I was able to put a good swing on it and tie the game.”
The Riptide will return to Great Park to play the Philippines Baseball Group on Sunday, July 5. First pitch is set for 5:30 p.m.
“There’s no quit in us,” Evans said. “We’re going to keep fighting til the end.”
