Irvine, Calif. – Not much went right for the OC Riptide tonight. After beating the Arroyo Seco Saints in a nailbiter yesterday, they took a beating of their own at home, giving up 11 runs to the Saints and scoring none. With this loss, the Riptide are 17-16 on the season and 14-14 in conference play, still third in the CCL South.
6 games behind first place with 6 left to play, winning the division is unlikely, but the playoffs are within reach. When asked about a potential playoff push, Head Coach Tim Brown remarked, “I hope we win tomorrow. I go one game at a time. I don’t think about playoffs. I try to win the next game.”
Photo Credit: Sage Zipeto
Starting pitcher Noah Carabajal (UNLV) was off to a hot start, going 6 up 6 down and striking out the side in the 2nd. In the third, however, Carabajal gave up 3 runs on 3 hits and a walk before slipping and falling off the mound, causing him to be removed from the game. Brown said, “I would’ve liked to see him go a couple more innings, but his elbow was bothering him and we don’t wanna take any chances with one of our starters.”
Christian Finnigan (Seton Hall) relieved Carabajal in the 4th, going 1.1 innings and giving up 6 runs total. In the 4th, an error by right fielder Wilson Galvan (UT Arlington) prolonged the inning, allowing the Saints to capitalize with a 2-run shot, though neither run was charged to Finnigan.
In the 5th, Finnigan gave up 3 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks, leaving the bases loaded with one out for Carson Case (Nevada). Case allowed one of Finnigan’s runners to score, but got out of the inning otherwise unscathed, giving up no runs of his own, walking 2, and striking out 1 in 1.2 innings of work.
Thomas Di Landri (San Jacinto College) relieved Case in the 7th, giving up 2 runs and 1 hit, walking 5 and striking out 6. Di Landri went 2.2 innings, before walking the bases loaded and handing the ball to first baseman Joey Nicolai (UC Riverside). Nicolai did his job and did it well, inducing a flyout to center to put the Riptide out of their misery.
On the offensive side, not much can be said. As a team, the Riptide was 4-31 (0.129) with 7 strikeouts and 4 walks. No players had multiple hits. Galvan, Gavin Mez (UNLV), Isaiah Morales (Saddleback College), and TC Simmons (UConn) each singled. Gavin Haimovitz (Santa Barbara City College) walked twice.
In Coach Brown’s words, “All we can do is flush this one.” Tomorrow is another day. The Riptide visit the Santa Barbara Foresters at Pershing Park. First pitch is 6 pm.
OC Riptide vs. Arroyo Seco Saints – Box Score