Baseball: Roadrunners take SCC opener 4-1 over Cerritos

Sophomore centerfielder Nick Ybarra went 2 for 4 with 3 RBI to help lead Rio Hondo College to a 4-1 victory over the Cerritos College Falcons in both teams' South Coast Conference opener on Thursday in Whittier.

The Roadrunners reversed a two-game slide and improved to 9-4 overall and 1-0 in SCC play while Cerritos fell to 5-11 and 0-1.

Cerritos jumped out to early 1-0 lead with a run in the second off Rio Hondo starting pitcher Brady Carlson. But the Roadrunners went ahead for good thanks to a three-run rally in the fifth. Ybarra provided the big blow, a big two-out, two-run single that scored Marcos Rivas and Alex Rodriguez. Earlier in the frame, Rodriguez delivered a RBI to drive in Tony Rosario.

Ybarra proved to be clutch again in the seventh. His two-double brought home Christian Valdez for an insurance run.

Carlson picked up the win to improve to 2-1. He allowed one run and four hits over 5 2/3 innings while striking out five. Jake Gaudet and Anthony Franco (save) closed out the win, combining for 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.

 Valdez also had a good game at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a run.

The Roadrunners and Falcons wrap up their two-game SCC series on Saturday (Mar. 4) at Cerritos. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.