Irvine, Calif. – The Orange County Riptide defeated the Conejo Oaks 16-4 Wednesday evening at the OC Great Park with an impressive display of offense. The Oaks jumped out to an early lead to start the game with a two-run homer in the top of the first inning.

The Riptide quickly responded in the bottom of the first as Davis Diaz (Vanderbilt) reached first on an error. With one out on the inning, Terrence Simmons (UConn) blasted a shot over the right field fence for a homerun that tied the ball game up at 2-2.

The Oaks added another pair of runs in the top of the second inning to stretch their lead to 4-2. The Riptide rallied to take the lead in the bottom of the third by driving in three runs to make the score 5-2.

Diaz walked to start off the inning and Kolton Freeman (Dartmouth) followed by reaching first on an error by the Oaks’ shortstop. Simmons earned his second RBI of the night by driving in Diaz from second with his single. Austin Kryszczuk (UNLV) delivered at the plate with two outs by driving in Freeman and Simmons with his single.

Gavin Haimovitz (Santa Barbara) got the fourth inning rolling with his single and later stole second base. Freeman earned an RBI by driving in Haimovitz with a single.

Josiah Castillo (Pepperdine) shuts down the Oaks at the plate with great pitching

Spencer Edwards (Cornell) started on the mound for the Riptide and threw the first five innings. While holding the Oaks to only four runs, Edwards compiled a total of five strikeouts before leaving the rubber.

In the bottom of the fifth, Blake Penso (UC Irvine) reached base safely with a double and advanced to third following a wild pitch. Kryszczuk walked on his plate appearance and stole second. Cody Dreis (Washington State) earned two RBIs with his single by driving in both Penso and Kryszczuk.

With two outs in the inning, Tyler Griggs (Central Arizona) walked and Diaz followed up with a single. Freeman added two more RBIs to his stat line after his double that scored Griggs and Diaz. Simmons walked on hit at-bat and advanced to third off an error by the third baseman that allowed Freeman to cross home plate. Simmons managed to score the sixth run of the inning as the pitcher for the Oaks walked Kryszczuk with bases loaded.

Josiah Castillo (Pepperdine) took the mound to start the sixth inning. Through three innings, Castillo shut out the Oaks and went on to strike out three batters.

The Riptide held on to an eight run lead heading into the seventh inning, but continued their offensive dominance. Penso scored Freeman with a double and Clayton Owens cruised into home after Dreis walked with bases loaded. Penso and Kryszczuk eventually scored following the double hit by Haimovitz.

Ethan Holt (California San Diego) closed on the mound tonight and struck out the final batter of the game, securing the Riptide’s 16-4 victory.

The Riptide play the Conejo Oaks again at 4:30 P.M. (PDT) tomorrow at George “Sparky” Anderson Field.

OC Riptide Vs. Conejo Oaks July 21, 2021 – Box Score