Baseball: Flores smashes two home runs in big opening-day win

TAFT, CA --- Sophomore catcher Rafael Flores made a huge impression playing in his first game in a Rio Hondo College uniform. The Cypress College transfer originally out of Katella High School went 4 for 5 with 2 home runs and 4 RBI to help lead the Roadrunners to a big 18-7 victory over Feather River College in their 2022 season opener in Taft on Thursday.

Trailing 4-3 after five innings, Rio Hondo exploded for 14 runs in the top of the sixth inning. Flores' two-run shot with one out put Rio Hondo in front 5-4 and was just the beginning of a huge rally by the Roadrunners.

Rio Hondo sent 19 batters to the plate in the sixth, totaled 7 hits, walked five times, and took advantage of a pair of Feather River errors to extend the frame. Dylan Schumacher smacked a two-run double, Flores added an RBI single in his second at bat during the frame while Nolan Anguiano, Gabriel Rico, Stephen Chavez, and Josep Angulo all drove in a run.

The Roadrunners totaled 12 hits in the game that was called after seven innings. Feather River, who was playing its second ball game of the day, used six pitchers against Rio Hondo after utilizing three earlier in the day against Taft College.

Rico had Rio Hondo's other multi-hit game, going 2 for 4 with 2 RBI.

Matt Herrera earned the win in relief for the Roadrunners, going 2 2/3 innings while allowing 3 runs and 6 hits. He struck out three.

Rio Hondo, now 1-0, returns to action on Friday (Jan. 28) when it hosts Antelope Valley College in a its home opener. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at The Jungle.