Toth Keeps a Close Game Against the Riptide

PASADENA, CA – The Arroyo Seco Saints come up short in a close battle against the Orange County Riptide with a final score of 6-5.

Wyatt Toth (Undecided) initially had a tough start against the Riptide hitters, allowing them to score 2 runs from an off-the-wall double.  

At the top of the second inning, second baseman Brayden Flores (Loyola Marymount University) had an amazing double play to first baseman Sean Asperger (Undecided), helping keep the Riptide scoreless.

The Saints knew they needed to get on the board. First batter Wyatt Toth, starting as both the pitcher and designated hitter, bombed a solo home run at 422 feet to center-right field. Toth expressed, "I'm not used to hitting on this field, but I could feel it in my hand and in my body when I know it's a good hit, so it's a pretty good feeling all the way around." 

Toth wasn't the only player to answer back; Sean Asperger sprinted into second off a line drive to right field and then scored off a wild pitch, tying the game 2-2.

The hitters for both teams never relaxed and took advantage of any errors made in pitching and fielding. At the top of the fourth inning, the Riptide scored 2 runs on a deep center-right hit, taking their second lead of the game at 4-2.

The Saints defense played a successful fifth inning with the gritty efforts made by Brayden Flores, Sean Asperger, and Carson Panarisi (Cal State Los Angeles) to help Toth get a 1-2-3 inning.

The fifth was the last time the Saints were able to completely close the gap between them and the Riptide. Toth scored his second run of the game from a wild pitch, and Dylan Immel's (Undecided) line drive was able to send Camden Andrews (California Baptist University) to home plate, tying the game at 4-4.  

Toth completed his quality start after he pitched through the sixth inning, 4 of which were scoreless. Wyatt Toth had to switch his mindset when stepping up to the mound versus in the batter's box. Toth explained, "You have to have a 'go-get-em' mentality. Whoever is stepping up in the batter's box you got to attack them. [And] coming up in the box, I got to make sure I am not worried too much about what I am doing; I have to do my job on both sides."

The Riptide stayed composed and finished strong, adding 2 runs in the eighth and ninth innings. A last-second effort by Camden Andrews hit sent Carson Panarisi home, closing the gap to 5-6. The Saints had multiple opportunities with runners on base throughout the game and in the ninth. However, due to Riptide pitching, the Saints were unable to capitalize on those opportunities and convert them into runs.

The Saints will look to turn things around Wednesday against the Santa Barbara Foresters at Jackie Robinson Memorial Field. First pitch will be thrown at 5:35 p.m.

Recap: Ava Goldson