Sophomore starting pitcher Joe Wills allowed one run over eight innings to help lead Rio Hondo College to a 7-3 non-conference win at San Diego Mesa College on Thursday. After losing its first five games to open the season, the Roadrunners have now won three of their last five to improve to 3-7 overall.

Wills improved to 2-0 with the victory. He scattered eight hits over eight innings while striking out six.

Rio Hondo opened the game with a run in the top of the first and jumped ahead for good with three runs in the second. The Roadrunners loaded the bases thanks to singles by Randy Buenrostro and Gabe Chavez and a walk to David Ornales. A walk to Mauricio Guadarrama forced in a run before R.J. Romo and Mike Hernandez were hit by pitches to bring home runs.

Rio Hondo added single runs in the sixth, seventh, and ninth before San Diego Mesa (4-7) rallied to score twice in the bottom of the ninth.

Chavez, Romo, Buenrostro, and Danny Marquez all had two hits for the Roadrunners while Hernandez had two RBI.

Rio Hondo returns to action on Saturday (Feb. 27) at 12 p.m. when the Roadrunners host Pasadena City College in a non-conference game.