Irvine, Calif. – The OC Riptide faced the MLB Academy Barons in a CCL battle at the Great Park Thursday night. Both teams had 10 hits each, but the Riptide hung on to their lead and secured the 7-6 victory of the Barons. 

Starting pitcher Spencer Edwards (Cornell) pitched five innings for the Riptide. Edwards allowed four runs for the Barons, but struck out four in his outing. 

The Riptide took advantage of one-out, bases loaded situation in the bottom of the first inning to take an early lead. A sac-fly from Charlie Taylor (Tennessee) scored Dwight Allen (Georgia) from third, putting the Riptide on top 1-0.

Charlie Taylor, with an assist from right fielder Kolton Freeman, prevented a run from scoring in the first inning. 
Photo Credit: Emily Sullivan

Edwards found himself in a tough spot in the top of the second with two Barons in scoring position with nobody out, but a fantastic run-saving play from right fielder Kolton Freeman (Dartmouth) kept the Riptide’s lead in tact as he threw out Barons’ Darrien McDowell (Pensacola State College) at the plate. 

Efrain Cervantes (Nebraska) singled to left to start off the home half of the second inning for the Riptide, and advanced to second on a stolen base. Allen reached again on a fielding error by Barons right fielder Basiel Williams Jr. (Nicholls State University), sending Cervantes to third. Allen stole second on a pick-off attempt from Barons starter Jorge Arellano (UCSB), and Cervantes came around to score. Allen scored later in the inning thanks to a sac-fly from Austin Kryszczuk (UNLV), extending the Riptide’s lead to 3-0.

Allen went 2-for-3 at the plate with two singles and a walk in Thursday’s win.
Photo Credit: Emily Sullivan

The Riptide used some clutch hitting to add to their lead in the third inning. A double from Davis Diaz (Vanderbilt) scored Kyle Booker (Tennessee) and Emilio Rosas (USC) extending the Riptide’s lead to five. Diaz came around to score on a wild pitch from Barons reliever Jonathan Largaespada (Cypress College). After reaching base for the third time in the game, Allen scored on an RBI-single from Kryszczuk, stretching the lead to 7-0. All of the Riptide’s runs in the inning came with two outs. 

Edwards ran into some trouble entering the top of the fourth. The Barons got on the board with a fielding error by Rosas. The Barons then scored three more runs with a bases loaded triple from Julian Boyd (Golden West College) to bring the Barons within three.

After a scoreless fifth inning from Edwards, Shawn Hepler (Xavier) entered the game in the sixth. Two Barons reached in the inning, but Hepler shut down any hopes of a rally with two strikeouts to end the inning.

Hepler came out for his second inning of work in the seventh, where the Barons were able to score two runs, making the score 7-6 Riptide,

Jake McBride entered the game in the eighth and pitched a scoreless inning for the Riptide. 

Tony Robie (Texas State) relieved McBride in the ninth inning. Robie retired the Barons in order as the Riptide were able to hold on to their lead and secure the 7-6 victory.

The OC Riptide will be back at the Great Park tomorrow for a game against the Conejo Oaks at 6pm PST.

OC Riptide vs. MLB Academy Barons July 14, 2021 – Box Score