Irvine, Calif. – The OC Riptide won on a walk-off from Grady Morgan (Fresno State) against the MLB Academy Barons. The Riptide won the previous game of this series 6 to 0 in a combined no-hitter.
The Riptide struck first, scoring Cooper Dulich (Creighton) in the 3rd inning, from an RBI single from Cary Arbolida (Houston). The Barons responded, scoring 2 runs on 2 hits to start the 4th. To answer, the Riptide brought in Matthew Flores (Hawai’i) who recorded back-to-back strikeouts.
The Riptide scored again in the bottom of the 6th with a bases-clearing RBI double from Nathan Cadena (San Jose State). Bryce Blaser (UNC) and Connor McGuire (CBU) came home to put the Riptide ahead 3 to 2. Then the Barons scored on an RBI to tie it up 3-3. In response, Bryce Blaser (UNC) hit a 2-run RB1 single, scoring Cooper Dulich (Creighton) from 3rd, and Grady Morgan (Fresno State) from 2nd. The Riptide had the lead 5 to 3.
To shut down the Barons, Curren Larson (UConn) came in to pitch in the 8th inning and retired the Barons’ batters to maintain the lead.
9TH INNING MADNESS
The Barons tied it up in the top of the 9th, scoring 1 off an RBI single to center in the 9th. Another scored on an RBI that advanced the runners to 3rd and 2nd. The Riptide got out of the inning, holding the Barons to 2 runs.
Leading off the bottom of the 9th, Grady Morgan (Fresno State) shot a pop fly out to right field. The ball popped out of the right fielder’s glove and Morgan advanced to second, but the throw missed the cutoff man, so Coach Spencer waved him home. Morgan said, “I was rounding 2nd thinking it was going to be a standup triple. Then I saw Spencer wheeling me home and I was like ‘Oh shoot here we go, it’s going to be close’.” Morgan made it in time at the plate after an off-throw. The Riptide won on a little league homerun 6 to 5.
GRADY MORGAN WALKS IT OFF!!! RIPTIDE WIN! pic.twitter.com/l3sC7fm2g7
— OC Riptide Baseball (@ocriptide) June 26, 2023
The OC Riptide play the Santa Barbara Foresters at the Great Park on Tuesday, June 27th at 7:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
OC Riptide vs. MLB Academy Barons – Box Score