PASADENA, Calif – The Riptide suffered an unfortunate loss Saturday night against the Arroyo Seco Saints. Getting closer to playoffs, this game pressured both teams to try to win as both the Saints and the Riptide sought to secure a spot at the top of the division.
The Saints struck first with a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning, but Riptide starting pitcher Seth Spencer stopped the team from adding on during his five complete innings pitched.
The Riptide made some noise in the fourth innings with a leadoff single from Bren Wilkinson to set up JC Allen for his first of three RBIs of the night. Camden Bates also had an RBI to score Jake Brown. Additionally, a bases-loaded walk to Patrick Hackworth scored JC Allen to enable the Riptide to take the lead.
The Riptide added one more run in the top of the fifth when JC Allen had his second RBI of the night to score Jake Brown.
The Saints tied it up at four runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Tanner Warady took over for Seth Spencer on the mound in the sixth. The Saints attacked quick and had an RBI double and a two-run home run.
JC Allen came back in the top of the seventh with his third RBI of the night to score Ace Reese to bring the score to 5-7.
Ryan Kittredege came in in place of Tanner Warady in the bottom of the seventh. The Saints added three more runs in that inning and one more in the bottom of the eights on a solo home run. Nathan Huy came in to try to stop the bleeding for the Riptide but the Saints lineup proved to be too strong and one more run crossed the plate, bringing the final score to 5-12.
“For whatever reason these guys hit right-handed pitching extremely well, we have given up 42 runs in three games at this ballpark,” said head coach Connor Spencer. “We will make adjustments, and we will come back out tomorrow to flush it, but the guys have got to stick together as a group.”
The Riptide looks to take a win tonight against the Saints at the Great Park in Irvine.
