SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – The San Luis Obispo Blues were left feeling pretty blue after the OC Riptide trounced them 13-4 at Sinsheimer Park on Tuesday.
The Riptide’s offense carried the team in a 10-hit, 13-run show against the Blues. The bullpen, consisting of five relievers, provided crucial support to secure the victory. It was a total team effort, head coach Connor Spencer said.
“An effort where all of our guys chipped in,” Spencer said. “We took advantage of what the Blues gave us tonight. It was timely hits and good key situations… I’m proud of these guys because it’s never easy to get on a bus for three and a half hours and show up and play the way that we did.”
With an 11-7 record, the Tide stay at fourth in the California Collegiate League South Division.
OC struck early in the first inning. Shortstop Nathan Cadena (San Jose State University) hit an infield ground ball, but the Blues’ shortstop bobbled it, advancing second baseman Patrick Hackworth (UC San Diego) home.
To continue the scoring in the first, third baseman Rocco Gump (Northwestern State) sent an RBI single to right field, and catcher Matt Spear (Michigan) tallied the run.
In the second inning, center fielder Michael Diaz (Grand Canyon University) blooped a sacrifice fly to right field and brought in designated hitter Luke Johnson (Cornell). Then, first baseman Jack Hammond (Long Beach State University) scored on a fielder’s choice. The Riptide led 4-0.
OC had a two-out rally in the fourth inning and added three runs to the board. Hackworth hit a single through the 3-4 hole, and Carson McEntire scored from second. Diaz and Hackworth then came home on a Jake Brown single.
On the mound, Tide starting pitcher Luis Becerra (Cal Baptist University) lasted four innings after giving up six hits and two runs. Spencer chose to go inning-by-inning with the bullpen to finish out the game.
“The only reason we blew it open in the end there was because every single guy that came out of the bullpen was solid and aggressive in the strike zone,” Spencer said.
The Blues showed a potential comeback in the bottom of the fourth with a leadoff solo home run. San Luis Obispo also held back the Tide for four consecutive innings. OC didn’t score again until the ninth inning, capitalizing on a struggling Blues closer.
With no outs in the ninth, SLO’s pitcher gave up two hits and walked four batters. McEntire singled, and Diaz knocked another single to right field. The Riptide added six runs in the ninth.
“At one point they were out hitting us,” Spencer said. “But, these guys came through and blew it open.”
The Riptide came into the game after an eleven-inning battle with the San Diego SunRays on Sunday. The game was suspended due to the sprinklers coming on, and the 7-7 duel will continue on July 16 when the two teams meet again in Irvine. Ahead of that game, OC will face the MLB Academy Barons next on the schedule, at home July 6.
