The Roadrunners came into the week determined, having been swept by a very strong Long Beach City College team last week, giving the Roadrunners a 2-4 SCC record. The matchup this week had the Roadrunners set to square off in a three-game series against Compton College (0-4 record). 

Improvement

In their first matchup, Tuesday afternoon, Mar.3, Rio Hondo starter Steven Alvarez took the hill against Compton starter Michael Fletcher. Alvarez, who gave up two runs last week in the opener vs LBCC would improve upon this start, striking out four and only giving up two walks in seven innings of one-run ball. The Roadrunners would score five runs to back Alvarez, including three runs in the top half of the fifth with two coming on an error and the other being knocked in home by an RBI double by first baseman Diego Flores. Five would be everything needed for the Roadrunners as left-hander Robert Valdez came in to shut the door and got the save on a 5-1 opening series win.

The second game of the series would bring Freshman starter Eric Amaya to the mound against Compton starter Rafael Cortez in Thursday’s matchup. Amaya and Cortez both brought their best in what was a tough fought pitchers duel. Amaya would only allow one earned and strike out six, but would leave the game losing 1-0 after 5 innings. 

The Roadrunners would give the ball to right-hander Nick Juarez in the top of the sixth and he would continue where Amaya left off giving the Roadrunners a much needed three innings of scoreless relief keeping the game 1-0 going to the bottom of the eighth. Even with the strong pitching, the Roadrunners could not drive runners in, striking out 11 times against Cortez and failing to cash in on some golden run-scoring opportunities. 

Crucial Inning

The bottom of the eighth would be crucial, as the Roadrunners were trailing against a winless Compton ball-club. “Our backs were up against the wall, having pressure on us and knowing that if we want to make playoffs we wouldn’t be able to lose to Compton,” Juarez would emphasize after the game. Knowing the pressure behind them with needing to beat Compton, the bottom of the eighth would be where the tide shifted, as the Roadrunners knew they had to pounce on a game where they had so many opportunities. Pounce they did because the Roadrunners would take the lead after a Matthew Raffety single with runners on first and second would tie the ball game and a Diego Perez two-run double with one out would bring the Roadrunners a 3-1 lead.

After a close scare in the top of the ninth, relief pitcher Garrett Paschal finished off Compton, leaving runners on first and second after allowing a run, earning the save in a 3-2 Roadrunner victory. When asked about his go-ahead hit after the game, Diego Perez explained, “I was trying to relax and take the ball to right-center.” Perez would also stress how important the