Baseball: Roadrunners hang on for 7-6 win over Compton

Andrew Martinez tossed seven shutout innings while Ricky Akles and Christian Tinnin both drove in two runs in a narrow 7-6 Rio Hondo win over visiting Compton College on Friday.

Coming off their 5-4 win on Thursday, the Roadrunners swept the two-game South Coast Conference series over the Tartars to improve to 2-0 in the SCC and 6-7 overall.

Martinez cruised through the Compton lineup, scattering five hits and allowing a single run in the top of the fifth inning.

The Roadrunners backed his effort, putting together a five-run rally in the bottom of the third. Akles, Jesus Maldonado, and Tyler Waldsworth all hit RBI singles while Tinnin drove in two with his single as part of Rio Hondo's five-hit inning.

Rio Hondo also got a run in the first thanks to a successful double steal of home and second base by Maldonado and Waldsworth. And in the sixth, Akles hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Sal Tabullo.

Headed to the ninth up 7-1, Rio Hondo appeared to be on its way to the easy win. But Compton rallied for five runs, taking advantage of an error and passed ball to score runs and extend the inning.

But with one out and the bases loaded, the Roadrunners defense came up with a huge double play, throwing out Edson Ruiz, the potential game-tying run at home and then getting Dominic Masciel out at second base trying to extend his single to end the ball game.

Jorge Centeno went 3 for 5 to lead Rio Hondo at the plate while Maldonado, Tabullo, and Akles all had two hits each. Robert Valdez got the save, as he induced the game-ending play.

Rio Hondo continues South Coast Conference play on Monday (Mar. 4) when they open a two-game series with El Camino College. Game 1 is set for 2 p.m. in Torrance with Game 2 at Rio Hondo on Thursday (Mar. 7), also at 2 p.m.