Pasadena, Calif.— The Orange County Riptide are riding high heading into the CCL Showcase Game break after completing the weekend series sweep over the Arroyo Seco Saints with a 9-8 victory.
Isaiah Morales (Saddleback) returned to the lineup and played a key part in the Riptide’s victory. The switch hitting shortstop went 2-5 with a double and four RBIs to lead the Riptide to a win.
He notched hits from both sides of the plate including an opposite field double to right field in the 2nd inning that drove in two. That two run double was apart of a five run 2nd inning that saw the Riptide jump out to an early lead.
“I feel more comfortable hitting left handed, but I’ve hit right handed my whole life so I don’t try to think about changing anything,” Morales said. “I just stay relaxed and try to focus on staying the same.”
After the Riptide’s five run second inning, the Arroyo Seco Saints responded instantly by chipping at the Riptide’s lead and scoring four in the inning.
The Riptide wasted no time in trying to spread their lead the next inning in the 3rd when Morales was able to drive in two runs again on a single that pushed the lead to 7-4.
(Photo credit: Alyssa Gervacio)
Connor McGuire (Cal Baptist) drove a ball into the right center field cap later on in the 3rd to bring in Owen Fuller (UNC Charlotte) to cap off the inning with a 8-4 lead.
The Saints weren’t going to fade away down by four runs as they responded again during their next at-bats. They scored three runs to make it 8-7 but they couldn’t force any more in after coming up one run short to tie the game for the second consecutive inning.
Eventually the Saints would finally get the run they were craving but not until the 7th inning when they tied it on another single.
In the top of the 8th inning, McGuire kicked off the inning with a double as the Riptide were trying to retake the lead. During the next at bat, McGuire moved up to third on a wild pitch and scored on another wild pitch to take a 9-8 lead.
Sam Hasegawa (UCSD) finished strong on the mound for the Riptide notching the save from two strong innings of work allowing no hits while striking out one.
The Riptide will feature six players in the CCL Showcase Game on Wednesday as they’ll look to demonstrate why the’ve been so successful this season before they continue play on the road Thursday at Conejo Oaks at 7 p.m.
Orange County Riptide @ Arroyo Seco Saints – Box Score