SBVC (1-1-1) opened their 2012 home slate with a 5-5 tie versus the Fullerton Hornets (0-2-1), 4 pitchers combined to toss a 10 hitter and shut down the visitors in the final four innings to secure the tie.

SBVC vs. Fullerton 02-06-12 27-Ryan Miller and Dino Ebel NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the San Bernardino Valley College Sports Information Department Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stephanie Rossano/Sports Information Contributor SBVC) Sophomore starting right hand pitcher Kevin Verdeja (Riverside Poly) kept his spot on the mound for four and a third innings, allowing four runs, six hits, and two walks. Freshman catcher Ryan Miller (Hemet Tahquitz) started his game off strong behind home plate, catching anything that was thrown his way.

The Hornets put a run on the board in the top of the second and SBVC SBVC vs. Fullerton 02-06-12 33-Kevin Verdeja NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the San Bernardino Valley College Sports Information Department Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stephanie Rossano/Sports Information Contributor SBVC) responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame. After a lead off strike out, Miller doubled to center, sophomore second baseman Juan Gutierrez (Fontana H.S.) grounded out to second, but moved Miller to third. A single by freshman third baseman Jordan Dresner (Ranch Cucamonga Los Osos) scored Miller, and a walk by freshman first baseman Joseph Szczepanski (Bloomington Christian) moved Dresner to second. Sophomore short stop Rafael Romo (Riverside John Wesley North) clobbered a single to center scoring Dresner and giving SBVC a 2-1 lead.

Fullerton tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the third, but SBVC responded with two more runs in the bottom of the inning. Freshman left fielder Adam Turpin (Redlands H.S.) led off with a walk then freshman right fielder Brett Torrence (Redlands East Valley) hit a single to left field, advancing Turpin to second. Miller then hit a single to right field scoring Turpin, advancing Torrence to second. Hornet’s head coach had seen enough and went to the bull pen. Both runners advanced bases on a SBVC vs. Fullerton 02-06-12 13-Rafael Romo NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the San Bernardino Valley College Sports Information Department Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stephanie Rossano/Sports Information Contributor SBVC) wild pitch, moving Miller to second and Torrence to third. Gutierrez came up to the plate smacking a sacrificed pop fly out to center field, scoring Torrence, giving SBVC the lead at 4-2.

Romo started off the bottom of the fourth inning pounding a single to the shortstop, and then freshman designated hitter Mike Trevino (San Bernardino Cajon) reached on a fielder’s choice, advancing to second after Romo was tagged out. Sophomore center fielder Adam Quintana (San Bernardino San Gorgonio) stepped in and grounded out to second, advancing Trevino to third, Trevino then scored on a wild pitch, giving SBVC a 5-2 lead. The Hornets added three runs to the top of the fifth to square the game at 5-5.

Quintana, who started the game in center, came in to close out the game in the seventh inning, tossing an inning and two-thirds, surrendering only one hit, walking two, and grabbing a strikeout. SBVC had a total of 33 at bats, scoring five runs off eight hits with four RBI’s.

Story written by Danielle Schmidt. Photos taken by Stephanie Rossano.