IRVINE Calif – The Orange County Riptide defeated the Arroyo Seco Saints, 5-4, Tuesday after catcher Ian Nguyen singled to right, driving in third baseman Ryan Castro for the winning run in the eighth inning.
“It was a chance to swing with runners in scoring position,” Nguyen said. “I had to get the ball through the infield somehow [and] get the job done.”
The Riptide got on the board in the bottom of the fourth when, with shortstop Brock Foulds on third, Castro managed to pull him across for the 1-0 lead after he grounded out to short.
The Saints had no problem answering back. In the next half inning, first baseman Owen Mangini belted a two-run home run, putting Arroyo Seco in front 2-1.
The rally only continued for the navy and gold. Shortstop Brayden Flores drove in center fielder Brody Chyr off an error, and third baseman Sean Asperger followed with a sac-fly to right, which brought home Flores for a three-run cushion.
The Riptide got the offense rolling in the bottom of the sixth. Center fielder Alex Dolan led off the frame with a double, and right fielder Bradley Navarro followed suit with two bags, sending home Dolan and cutting the deficit to two runs. After Navarro set himself 90 feet closer off a passed ball, Foulds’ base knock narrowed the Saints lead to one.
To cap off the sixth, designated hitter Alonso Reyes came to the plate and collected the Riptide’s third extra base hit of the inning to even the score at four.
After giving up a leadoff triple to right fielder Canon King in the top of the second, starting pitcher Liam Thatcher stood tall and struck out three consecutive batters to end the side.
In the third, the Saints stranded another runner on third with one out – as Thatcher picked up another strikeout while in the stretch.
“Runners on base doesn’t really bother me. I work out of the stretch all of the time anyways so it’s not anything new,” Thatcher said. “It almost dials me in more. I’ve got to bear down, keep this guy there, pitch a little more competitively and beat around the zone.”
Thatcher tossed four innings and picked up six strikeouts while only allowing two hits, two walks and one earned run.
The Riptide, now 24-14, will hit the road and play the Saints on Wednesday afternoon.
First pitch is scheduled for 5:35 p.m.
