Rio Hondo edged 4-2 in series finale vs. Oxnard

WHITTIER — Rio Hondo drew seven walks but could not convert, stranding 10 runners in a 4-2 non-onference loss to Oxnard College at home on Thursday.

The Roadrunners tied the game 2-2 in the fourth inning when Lucius Mika reached on an error at third base, scoring Danyal Jenkins and Andrew Ruvalcaba. But Rio Hondo went scoreless over the final five innings, managing just one hit after the fourth frame.

Ruvalcaba finished 2 for 4 to account for half of the team's four hits. Jenkins and Noah Lara each contributed sacrifice bunts, and Anthony Baez drew two walks.

Marcus Mayweather gave the Roadrunners a chance, holding Oxnard to two earned runs over five innings on four hits with one walk. Christian Ortega relieved in the sixth, struck out five and kept the game tied before surrendering a solo home run to Brayden Ferguson in the seventh. Ortega allowed an additional run in the eighth and took the loss, dropping to 3-3. Gabriel Lizarraga worked a scoreless ninth.

Rio Hondo fell to 6-19 overall. The contest closed out a two-game non-conference series with the Condors. Rio Hondo also dropped the opener 10-8 on Tuesday in Oxnard.

The Roadrunners return to action on Tuesday (Mar. 24) when they open a three-game South Coast Conference series at home against El Camino College.