Santa Barbara, Calif. – It was a pitching duel in Pershing Park tonight and the OC Riptide came out on top in a quick, close game, beating the defending champs, the Santa Barbara Foresters, 2-1. With this win, the season series with the Foresters is evened up at 3-3. The Riptide are still in 3rd place in the CCL South.

Santa Barbara had their ace, Graham Osman, on the mound, the only pitcher in the CCL with a better ERA (0.25) than the Riptide‘s own Matthew Maloney (0.29). Osman was excellent, giving up 0 earned runs in 5.0 innings, but the Riptide capitalized on mistakes by the Foresters‘ defense and bullpen, pulling ahead 2-0 going into the 9th.

Daniel Naughton closed out the win for the Riptide.
Photo Credit: Sage Zipeto

The first run came in the 4th, as Blake Penso (UCI) reached on a fielder’s choice, Isaiah Morales (Saddleback College) walked, and an error by the Foresters‘ shortstop allowed Brandon Burckel (Houston) to reach and Penso to score. In the 8th, Wilson Galvan (UT Arlington) doubled, TC Simmons (UConn) walked, and Morales doubled home Galvan for the second and final run of the ballgame for the Riptide.

Starting pitcher Reed Schaefer (Arizona) held his own against Osman, going 4.1 shutout innings, allowing 2 hits, and striking out 3. He also successfully picked off 2 batters at first. The only blemish on his outing was the free pass, as Schaefer walked 7 batters, 2 of those walks coming in the 5th, causing him to be pulled with 1 out and runners on.

Trevor Meisner (Utah Tech) relieved Schaefer in the 5th. Meisner went 2.2 innings and continued the shutout, allowing 1 hit, walking 2, and striking out an incredible 7 batters.

Daniel Naughton (Montana) entered in the 8th, beginning a 6-out save. He went 3-up and 3-down in the 8th, but got into some trouble in the 9th, allowing a solo home run and another baserunner on an E1. However, he limited the damage to one run and closed out the win.

The Riptide are back at home in OC Great Park tomorrow, playing the MLB Academy Barons for the second-to-last home game of the season.

OC Riptide @ Santa Barbara ForestersBox Score