Alisha Alexander - Director of Baseball Operations

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - In the season finale with the Riverside Bulldogs, the SoCal Bombers fought a back and forth battle that ended with a 10-8 win in favor of the Bombers.

Things did not get off to a great start for the Bombers, as the Bulldogs put up a four spot in the top of the first inning.  Four-straight singles propelled the Bulldog offense before Jimmy Smith relayed the ball in to Chris Palmer who got the ball to Eric Mendez behind the plate to get a runner trying to score.

Starter Anthony Villegas settled in after this inning, not allowing another run through the next three innings.

The Bombers got a run back in the bottom of the first as Ryon Knowles came around to score on an error, cutting the lead to 4-1.

Things really got going for the Bombers in the bottom of the third as Palmer drew a leadoff walk.  Knowles doubled to put both in scoring position and Conner Shepherd came to the plate with one out.  The TCU commit came up clutch with a double to knock in both runners and bring the Bombers within one, and a single from Daniel Dominguez knocked in Shepherd to tie the game at four. 

Palmer gave the Bombers the lead in the bottom of the fourth as he scored on a passed ball.

The Bulldogs regained the lead in the top of the fifth as a two-run shot from Alex Rodriguez put them up 6-5.

Shepherd came in clutch yet again as he led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a solo shot to right to tie the game at six.

Another two-run home run off James Goodwin in the top of the sixth put the Bulldogs in front 8-6, but the Bomber bats quickly retaliated.

Mendez led off the inning with a single to left and was able to advance on an error by the left fielder.  Knowles then reached on an error by the pitcher, putting two on with two outs from Smith.  The Bombers’ leaders in home runs added to his total as he crushed a ball to dead center to give the Bombers a 9-8 lead. 

They added onto this lead in the bottom of the seventh as Dominguez stretched a routine single into a double to start off the inning.  He was lifted for a pinch runner in Brandon Cody.  Joey Magro knocked him in with a single to left to extend the lead to 10-8.

Blake Zeleny took over on the mound in the top of the seventh and through two scoreless innings including two strikeouts. 

Dylan Simcik came on in the top of the ninth to close out the game and earned the save as the Bombers locked up the 10-8 victory.

The Bombers head to Pomona on Wednesday to take on the IV Bucs in a two game series.  Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Cal Poly Pomona.