(Missouri Valley, IA) — Riverside baseball rallied with 4 runs in the top of the 7th inning and won their first game of the season beating Missouri Valley 11-9 on Friday night.
The Bulldogs opened the game with four runs in the first inning — Cole Jeppesen walked, went to 2nd on a wild pitch from Mo Valley starter Draeson Allen and scored on an error hit by Dane Martens. After a pop out, Victor Alfonso was hit by a pitch and Aaron Smith delivered a RBI single to make it 2-0. With 2 outs and the bases loaded, Hayden Hofeldt went the other way with a 2 run single to make it 4-0.
Missouri Valley came back against Bulldog starter Cole Jeppesen — Jack Handlos reach on a strikeout wild pitch, Owen Gute got a bunt hit, after Allen struck out , Noah Cox was intentionally walked to load the bases but Dylan Davis got a sac fly and the Jeppesen hit two straight batters to score a run and Cade Tierney got 2 run single to tie the game at 4-4.
The Big Reds took the lead in the bottom of the 2nd — Handlos reached on an error, Gute singled, Allen got a RBI base hit, then Cox and Davis got RBI grounders to make it 7-4.
Riverside tied it up in the top of the third — Maddox Wheeldon was now pitching for Allen but he hit Hunter Shady with one out; Bennett Hough singled; Hofeldt reached on an error to load the bases and Caleb Meyers brought in Shady with a sac fly; Jeppesen then drilled a 2 run double to left center to tie the game at 7-7.
Mo Valley retook the lead in the bottom of the 4th on a RBI double from Dylan Davis and Jeppesen hit Dyllan Brodersen with a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 9-7. That was the last batter for Jeppesen and Victor Alfonso came in and got the final two outs to get out of the inning.
The Big Reds loaded the bases in the 5th but Alfonso got a grounder to end the threat — Missouri Valley ended up stranding 13 runners in the game, Riverside stranded 10.
Riverside threatened in the top of the 6th but could not score so they trailed by two going to the 7th. Hough started the inning with a single up the middle — he would end up on third base on two wild pitches from Wheeldon and Hough scored on a grounder by Hofeldt that was bobbled for an error — it was 9-8. Cody Hofeldt hit for Meyers and walked. That knocked Wheeldon from the mound and Jack Handlos came in from center field to relieve him. With runners on the corners, Hayden tried to score on a wild pitch but he was thrown out at home. Jeppesen walked and Martens blooped one into center for a RBI single scoring Cody and that tied the game at 9-9. With Peyton Amdor at the plate, Handlos committed a balk and that scored Jeppesen and the go ahead run. After Amdor grounded out, Alfonso walked and Smith gave Riverside some insurance with a RBI double down the left field line scoring Martens. Shady flew out to end the inning but four runs had crossed and the Bulldogs led 11-9.
Alfonso got the first two outs quickly in the bottom of the 7th but Noah Cox singled. Dylan Davis walked and Alfonso hit Wheeldon with a pitch to load the bases and the potentially tying run was in scoring position.. However, Broderson hit a grounder to third and Amdor stepped on third for the force and the final out.
Riverside
Aaron Smith 2-4, double, 2 RBI, run
Bennett Hough 3-4, 2 runs
Hayden Hofeldt 1-4, 2 RBI, run
Cole Jeppesen 1-2, double, 3 walks, 2 RBI, 2 runs
Victor Alfonso 3 2/3 IP, 0 runs, 3 hits, 1 walk, 2 HBP, 3 K
Missouri Valley
Cade Tierney 2-4, 2 RBI
Owen Gute 2-5, 2 SB, 2 runs
Jack Handlos 1-5, double, 2 SB, 2 runs
Dylan Davis 1-2, double, 3 RBI
Line Score
Riverside (1-4) 11 runs, 8 hits, 4 errors, 10 LOB
Missouri Valley (1-7) 9 runs, 8 hits, 4 errors, 13 LOB
W: Alfonso (1-1)
L: Handlos (01)
Time: 2:50
