Irvine, Calif – The Orange County Riptide lost their first California Collegiate League game 14-4 Tuesday night against the Arroyo Seco Saints. The visiting Saints snapped the Riptide’s 5-game win streak as their starting pitcher, Creighton Hansen, silenced the Riptide offense by striking out eight batters in the first four innings while only allowing one run.
The Riptide pitchers struggled, allowing 10 runs on 14 hits, while walking 11 batters. Freshman right-hander Mikal Ashley started on the mound for Orange County and allowed three runs in the first inning followed by three runs in the second without recording an out before being lifted by Head Coach Mitch LeVier. Ashley battled to find the strike zone, facing 11 batters, walking six Saints, hitting one and striking out one.
Davidson righty Jake Biederman entered the game in the second inning and allowed four runs (three earned) through 3.1 innings pitched. He allowed three hits through the 15 batters he faced, while striking out one. Defensive errors behind both Ashley and Biederman added to the Riptide woes as they trailed 7-0 after two innings.
Pepperdine freshman Josiah Castillo came in to pitch in the fifth inning, allowing three hits and two runs through 0.2 innings pitched. He achieved both outs by striking out two of the six batters he faced. Utility player Derek Shaver (Wichita State) allowed one run and two hits over two innings pitched. He struck out two of the nine batters he faced.
Saints starter Hansen held the Riptide hitless through three innings until Dwight Allen (Georgia) got the Riptide’s first hit in the bottom of the fourth inning. Shortly after, Allen advanced to second and third base to tally his team-leading eighth and ninth stolen base. Allen eventually scored once the clutch-hitting Jack Thomas-Wold (UNLV) recorded his team-leading eighth RBI in the fourth inning.
Efrain Cervantes (Nebraska) subbed into the game at third base in the fifth inning, and later recorded a two-RBI single in the seventh inning scoring Reed Spenrath (TCU) and Kolton Freeman (Dartmouth). Starting left fielder Terrence Simmons (University of Connecticut) earned himself an RBI in the seventh inning on a ground out that scored Davis Diaz (Vanderbilt) registering the Riptide’s fourth and final run.
Left-handed reliever Cade Connolly (Santa Clara University) came into pitch in the eighth inning, allowing zero hits and zero runs, while walking one and striking out another batter through one inning. University of Tennessee righty Charez Butcher made his Riptide debut in the ninth inning, allowing one hit, one run, two walks, while striking out one of the six visiting batters he faced.
Riptide fielders committed three errors within the first two innings in the field. Despite committing multiple errors in the field, Austin Kryszczuk (UNLV) shined defensively showing his arm strength and accuracy with a run-saving throw to the plate from right field in the second inning.
The Orange County Riptide will look to start another winning streak as they play three games in three consecutive days. The riptide look to rebound Wednesday with a rivalry game against Santa Barbara Foresters at 6:00 PM PDT at the Orange County Great Park.
Arroyo Seco Saints vs Orange County Riptide June 22, 2021 – Box Score