Irvine, Calif. – The Orange County Riptide lost to the Conejo Oaks 8-4 on Friday night. Mental errors and defensive miscues were too much to overcome for the Riptide, as they dropped their second game in a row.
Miscues
The Riptide took the lead early in the fourth inning, capitalizing on a few defensive errors made by the Oaks. Nick Upstill (Pepperdine) scored on a throwing error by the catcher and Cooper Dulich (Creighton) came in on the following play after another defensive error. However, Conejo answered right back and tied the game two apiece following multiple defensive errors from the Riptide.
The Oaks reclaimed the lead in the eighth inning and would score five unanswered runs en route to the win.
(Photo Credit: Sarah Cisneros)
It was a frustrating night for the Riptide who walked 11 batters as a team and had three errors that brought in multiple runs. Head coach Connor Spencer addressed the mental errors that the team were unable to overcome.
“They took advantage of every error we made today, the three errors cost us,” said Spencer. “We didn’t pick each other up today. If the defense and the pitching aren’t working it’s going to be a disaster and that’s what happened.”
Josh Randall (USD) threw three scoreless innings, striking out five, allowing one hit and one walk. Randall made his first appearance for the after he was one of the six players from the Riptide to play in the CCL Showcase game on Wednesday.
Up Next
The Riptide will take on the Santa Barbara Foresters on Saturday, in what will be another battle as the teams have played two close games already this summer.
“Both of our battles with Santa Barbara have been dog fights, I expect more of the same,” said Spencer. “We’re going to put our best guys out there. We have a stretch run to make against two teams that we’re 0-4 against so far.”
Conejo Oaks vs. Riptide – Box