PASADENA, Calif. – A nine-run ninth-inning barrage lifted the Orange County Riptide to a 16-2 win against the Arroyo Seco Saints on Saturday.
“It’s fantastic,” Riptide head coach Bryan Evans said following his sixth straight win. “The guys are playing well, they’re bought in, they’re taking good at bats, we’re throwing strikes, pounding the zone, and getting out of big innings when we need to get out of them.”
The Riptide wasted no time getting on the board. First baseman Justin Tillar grounded out to second and brought home center fielder Tragan Rogowski for the 1-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth, second baseman Conner Barth cashed in Tillar and gave Orange County a two-run cushion.
Starting right-handed pitcher Jake Valenzuela, who tossed four scoreless innings, ran into trouble in the fifth. RHP Luke Casarez came in to relieve and got out of a bases-loaded jam to keep the Saints scoreless.
“Coach put me in a good situation,” Casarez said. “I decided to attack him, let my defense play, and I know I got a great team behind me, so I just wanted to make plays and make the opportunity best, and it worked out pretty well.”
The Riptide pulled away shortly after left fielder Alex Dolan hit a sacrifice fly to left in the seventh for the third run of the game.
A deep two-RBI double to center field by shortstop Travis Curry started the scoring in the eighth, which was capped off by an RBI single from third baseman Slater Nunez, making the Riptide lead 7-0.
The Orange and Blue never lifted their foot off the gas pedal. Right fielder Tomas Cernius started the rally with an RBI single. Later in the inning, Curry reached first and drove in both second baseman Conner Barth and designated hitter Jarret Sabol.
The Riptide, now 8-1, remains on the road and will play the Academy Barons on Sunday, June 14, in Compton.
First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.
