Rios Brilliant in Big Win over Simpson

By Brandon Petersen

Eddie Rios has been there and done that. 

Friday afternoon at the Great Park when his team needed him to deliver the most, Westcliff's ace came through one more time. 

Rios mowed down nine Red Hawks in seven innings of two-run ball, scattering just four hits along the way and the Warriors picked up a huge win over second-place Simpson, 10-4.

Keep in mind this is the same Simpson team that recently upset NAIA No. 7 Jessup and came into the contest having lost just five Cal Pac contests. 

The Warriors now sit in fourth place in the Cal Pac race to the postseason with six games remaining on the league calendar. 

Westcliff will finish its series with Simpson Sunday with a double-dip, then third-place Embry-Riddle comes calling next weekend.

The Eagles will no doubt be looking for a little payback after the Warriors provided their first-day ouster at last season's Cal Pac tournament. 

Westcliff wraps the Cal Pac docket with a make-up against Providence Christian on the 23rd of April. 

Right now, the Warriors are in prime position to move on to Mesa, Arizona when the season ends, but they must continue to pick up their fair share of upsets along the way. 

Friday at the Great Park, Rios' clutch pitching was matched with clutch hitting.

Ian Avalos gapped a fastball to right-center in the bottom of the third, scoring both Eddie Rivero (2B) and Brady Villegas, then Kolby Wagatsuma singled Avalos home for an early 3-0 lead. 

Ryan Naranjo made it 4-1 in the sixth when he doubled home Damien Holmes, and Nick Malvini made it 6-2 in the seventh when he tripled home Jakob Taylor. 

Taylor then provided the finishing touch in the eighth when he hit a two-run single that plated Avalos and Oscar Juarez. 

Kyle Douphner struck out a pair in a two-inning relief appearance to close it out. 

First pitch with the Red Hawks is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Great Park. 

The nightcap will follow at 2 p.m.