The Rio Hondo Men’s Baseball team falls 0-5  at Canyon, losing 8-3 on Feb. 9.

Having  suffered their fourth defeat in a row just three days earlier, by this same Canyon’s team, the Roadrunners were looking to gain their first win of the season by avenging their 16-6 beatdown on Feb. 6.

The first inning did not start well for the Roadrunners, going three and out in the top half of the inning and then giving up hits to the first three batters in the bottom of the inning resulting in a one run deficit after the first.

Canyon’s starting pitcher Cy Scott looked to be settling in through the first 3 innings, allowing only one hit and striking out three roadrunners in that span.

But in the top half of the fourth, Scott holding a 2-0 lead after teammate Roy Verdejo homered in the last half inning, started to run into some trouble as the Roadrunners began to apply some pressure.

Scott started the fourth by walking Rio Hondo shortstop Mauricio Guadarrama, who then advanced to second after his teammate first baseman R.J. Romo singled.

Two batters later, with Romo and Guadarrama on second and third, left fielder Mike Hernandez came through with a single to left, knocking in both runners for Rio Hondo’s first runs of the game.

But success was short lived as the Roadrunners could only muster one more run in that same inning on an error made by Canyon’s shortstop J.D. Krauskopf.

Scott would prove to be too much for the Roadrunners as he finished his game going 5 2/3 innings striking out four and only giving up three runs on six hits.

It would not take long for Canyon to respond and it would not take long for Krauskopf to redeem himself for his error. Krauskopf would tie the game for Canyon in the bottom of the fourth after his single plated home a runner from third base.

Two innings later Canyon would gain the lead for good after the Roadrunners failed to score a run in the top half of the sixth by stranding three base runners on four hits earned.

Although the bottom of the sixth did not start off well for Canyon with their first two batters recording k’s, Catcher Anthony Lepre sent a ball from Rio Hondo starter Joe Willis  over the fence which was the first of three straight 2 out hits given up by Willis and ultimately putting an end to his day. Willis would finish with a stat line of six innings, ten hits, five earned and eight strikeouts.

Canyon would enter the seventh leading 5-3 and would later add three more runs in the eighth inning when Verdejo came up big once again with two outs as he tripled home three runs and finishing his day going 2 for 5 with four RBI’s.

The 0-5 Roadrunners will get their next chance at their first win of the season as they take on San Diego Mesa at Rio Hondo College on Thursday Feb. 11 at 2 p.m.