San Luis Obispo, Calif. – The Orange County Riptide lost to the San Luis Obispo Blues 13-8 in a high scoring affair Tuesday night. Walks haunted the Riptide as they issued 12 free passes that allowed the Blues to get back in the game and take a five run lead.
The Riptide lost Tuesday was the third loss of the season to the Blues, the only team they have yet to defeat in the CCL South division this summer.
The Riptide fell behind two runs in the first inning going down two runs early. The offense was stagnant for the first two innings, before batting around in the third inning, scoring 4 runs. Patrick Hackworth (UCSD) led off the inning with a single and would later score on a fielders choice error. Hackworth capped off the inning with a two out, two RBI single, while leading the team with three hits on the night.
T3 | The RIPTIDE RALLY continues‼️🚨🙌 @patrickhackwort (@UCSDbsb) hits a 2 RBI DOUBLE
Score 6-2 Riptide🕺#OCRiptideBaseball #OCRiptideFamily #CCLBaseball #CCL30years pic.twitter.com/MToe5COH7H
— OC Riptide Baseball (@ocriptide) July 19, 2023
Free Passes
Pitching has been dominant for the Riptide this summer, however that was not the case Tuesday night as the pitching staff was issuing too many free passes to let the Blues back into the game.
The Riptide led by five runs heading into the sixth inning before the Blues offense put together five hits and scored five runs to tie things up at eight. The Blues would add another five runs in the seventh inning after batting around the lineup themselves with 4 hits and three walks in the inning.
Matthew Maloney (UNLV) bounced back from a rough first inning, where he issued two walks and gave up two runs to pitch two more shutout innings. Maloney finished the night allowing two hits, three walks, two hits and striking out four.
The Orange County Riptide will face off against the Blues again Wednesday night in San Luis Obispo, looking to beat the Blues for the first time this summer. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. pacific time.
OC Riptide vs. San Luis Obispo Blues – Box