Riverside's Mocherman, McWilliams Combined for No-No against East LA
The Tigers were up by eight runs heading into the top of the ninth inning, but tension and focus was on high. It was not because they felt as if the winless East Los Angeles Huskies were poised to mount a comeback. It was because they were three outs away from making history.
The Tigers were up by eight runs heading into the top of the ninth inning, but tension and focus was on high. It was not because they felt as if the winless East Los Angeles Huskies were poised to mount a comeback. It was because they were three outs away from making history.
Riverside held the Huskies scoreless through the entire game, but more importantly they had not allowed a single hit up to this point.
The Tigers allowed five baserunners leading up to the final frame with sophomore southpaw and starting pitcher Jon Mocherman. Mocherman started the game on a shaky note by hitting the leadoff batter and followed by issuing two walks. However, he worked a sacrifice out, strikeout and an inning ending fly out to right field to wiggle out of the only jam he found himself in all game.
From then on, Mocherman was on cruise control. He went on to fan eight Huskies highlighted by striking out the side in order in the top of the fifth inning. He retired the final six batters he faced in order as well.
Freshman reliever Chaz McWilliams entered in the top of the sixth inning and mirrored Mocherman's dominance. He sat down the first five batters he faced in order to set the tone. He had one batter reach in his first inning of work due to his own throwing error, but it was quickly nulled after forcing an inning-ending fly out to defensive replacement Nathan Aldaz in right field.
McWilliams reared back and retired the next five batters leading the final out and the opportunity for the no-hitter.
McWilliams forced a weak ground ball to third base and it took a do or die effort from third baseman Ramsses Fierro. He charged the slow roller, gathered his feet, and fired over to fire for the bang-bang out leading to the no hitter.
Mocherman (1-1) earned the win after tossing five innings and striking out nine batters. McWilliams chucked four scoreless and punched out four.
Offensively, Riverside banged out eight runs on 12 hits. Freshman second baseman Darius Price had a career-high night by going 4-for-4 with a double and three RBI. Freshman Sebastian Flores went 1-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored, while freshman Bret Bowers barreled a triple.
The Tigers (4-1) will look to sweep the series against East LA tomorrow at 5 p.m.
Release by Nicho DellaValle, Riverside SID