Baseball Erases Seven Run Deficit, Walks It off Against Mt. SAC

Freshman second baseman Bryce Cermenelli dug into the box with the bases loaded and nobody out with the game gridlocked at seven all in the bottom of the ninth inning. He gripped down on the bat and drove a deep fly ball to center field, scoring sophomore center fielder Casey Murray Jr. on a sacrifice fly to complete an 8-7, come from behind victory against the Mt. San Antonio College Mounties.

The Tigers were staring down the barrel of a 7-0 Mt. San Antonio lead and they went to work starting in the bottom of the sixth inning. Murray Jr. drove in the first Riverside by hitting a double into the right-center gap, plating sophomore right fielder Nathan Aldaz. Murray Jr. would come around to score a batter later on a single to left field off the bat of sophomore backstop Rei Shobuya.

Riverside followed with three more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning as freshman defensive replacement Deavan Alvarez punched a single through the right side to score sophomore first baseman Jordan Ruiz. Ruiz had reached on a leadoff triple down the left field line. Shobuya struck once again with two outs in the inning by barreling a two out, bases loaded single to score freshman designated hitter Anthony Gibbons and Aldaz to bring the deficit to 7-5.

Mt. SAC was caught with their tail between their legs on multiple occasions on defense. Their first major error came in the bottom of the seventh inning. Their pitcher fielded an attempted sacrifice bunt off the bat of Alvarez and chucked it into right field, scoring Cermenelli. Gibbons followed with a sacrifice flyout to center field, allowing Ruiz to come home and tie the game at seven all after eight innings.

Sophomore reliever Rheego McIntosh came in to handle the top of the ninth inning and did so successfully despite walking the first batter. He finished the inning with a strikeout and a force out at second to set the stage for a walk off scenario.

Murray Jr. sparked the ninth inning rally by legging out an infield single to the shortstop and quickly advanced to second on a passed ball. Shobuya was issued an intentional walk to send sophomore left fielder Adrian Arechiga to the dish.

Arechiga squared for a sacrifice bunt and laid it down successfully. The Mountie pitcher tossed and arrant throw passed the first baseman to load the bases. Cermenelli followed with the game winning sacrifice fly out to grab an 8-7 win.

Aldaz led the team in his first start of the season. He went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a stolen base.

"Everyone contributed in the later innings when we needed some runs and that's exactly what we had to do," said Aldaz.

Aldaz earned the start in right field and made the most of his opportunity.

"We prepared for Mt. SAC and knew it would be a close game. We knew a lefty was throwing and nothing overpowering. Our coaches prepared us early this week in practice."

Shobuya went 2-for-4 with three RBI, while Murray Jr. went 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and two runs scored.

The first baseman tandem of sophomores Andrew Rodriguez and Ruiz went a combined 4-for-4. Ruiz scored twice and barreled a triple.

The bullpen threw very well as they went four innings and did not allow a single run. Sophomore Albert Roblez tossed a scoreless sixth inning, backed by a strong 1.1 innings from freshman Carson Summerfield who fanned one batter. Freshman Colt Tucker relieved him and tossed a flawless two third innings, while McIntosh closed the door and earned the win.