Late Runs Doom Dons in 8-2 Loss to Riverside

Andrew Hodges made his first start of the season against Riverside City College. He allowed two runs on seven hits.
Andrew Hodges made his first start of the season against Riverside City College. He allowed two runs on seven hits.

SANTA ANA - The Dons Orange Empire Conference losing streak was extended to four games as they lost to visiting Riverside City College 8-2 in the first game of their three-game series with the Tigers. The loss drops the Dons to 15-7 overall and 2-5 in conference while Riverside improves to 14-8 and 2-5.

The Dons grabbed the first lead of the game at 1-0 on a solo home run by Justin Mellano in the third inning before Riverside scored twice in the fourth to go up 2-1. Another solo home run by the Dons, this time by Andrew Ramos in the seventh inning, tied the game at 2-2.

But the Tigers answered back with a two-run home run by Brody Weiss in the top of the eighth inning before tacking on four more runs in the top of the ninth inning to make the final score 8-2.

Andrew Hodges made his first start of the season but didn't factor into the decision. He allowed two runs, both earned, on seven hits over 5.1 innings but left the game trailing 2-1. Guillermo Sanchez (3-2) got the loss for the Dons as he allowed two runs on one hit in one inning.

Angel Delgado (5-1) got the win as he held the Dons to two runs on nine hits over seven innings. Andrew O'Brien (1) got the save as he held the Dons without a hit over the final two innings.