Baseball: Roadrunners pick up opening-day win over Imperial Valley

WHITTIER – Damian Rodiguez and Carson Slager smashed back-to-back home runs with two-outs in the bottom of the seventh inning as part of a late four-run rally to help lead Rio Hondo College to a 6-4 win over visiting Imperial Valley College in its season opener on Friday at The Jungle.

Unfortunately, the Roadrunners were only able to take one game out of three on opening weekend. On Saturday, Rio Hondo suffered a 9-4 loss at home to Imperial Valley and on Sunday fell 10-5 at Cerro Coso College.

On Friday, Rio Hondo totaled 8 hits with Rodriguez and Michael Salcedo leading the offense with two each.

Matthew Leyva pitched well in the opening-day start, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) and 5 hits over 6 innings. He struck out 4 and walked a pair in the no decision. Mykai Bryant picked up the win in relief after tossing a scoreless seventh inning. Cris Espino earned the save despite allowing a ninth-inning run to Imperial Valley.

On Saturday, it was IVC that rallied late for the win. With Rio Hondo up 3-1 after five innings, Imperial Valley put up 3 runs in the sixth and 5 runs in the seventh.

Ryan Duron went 3 for 5 with 2 RBI and Matt Covarrubias was 3 for 5 with a run. Jeremiah Sibrian was solid in the start, allowing 1 run (0 earned) and 2 hits over 5 innings. He struck out 7 batters.

Sunday saw the Roadrunners' late surge come up short. Rio Hondo trailed at Cerro Coso 9-1 after six innings before posting a pair of runs in the seventh and eighth innings.  

Michael Salcedo (2 for 5) and Covarrubias (1 for 4) both had 2 RBI in the loss. Dominic Versluis took the loss after allowing 6 runs (5 earned) and 4 hits over 4 1/3 innings. He struck out 4 and walked 2.

Rio Hondo, now 1-2 overall, returns to action on Thursday (Feb. 1) when the Roadrunners host Citrus College in a 1 p.m. non-conference game.