Cerro Coso Baseball Erupts for 20 Runs in Season-Opening Win Over Rio Hondo

Ridgecrest, Calif. — Cerro Coso College baseball opened the 2026 season in emphatic fashion completing a sweep over Rio Hondo College 20–4 behind a relentless offensive attack and strong work from the pitching staff.

The Coyotes piled up 17 hits, 20 runs, and 10 walks, breaking the game open with a seven-run fourth inning and never looking back. Cerro Coso scored in six different innings and finished with 10 extra-base hits, overwhelming Rio Hondo pitching throughout the afternoon.

Cerro Coso's lineup produced a balanced attack from top to bottom, with nine different players recording at least one hit.

• Christian Wilkes had a huge day at the plate, going 2-for-2 with three RBIs, three runs scored, and three walks, while also recording a sacrifice fly.

• David Encarnacion went 3-for-6 with a triple, three RBIs, and three runs scored, driving in key runs during the Coyotes' big middle innings.

• Andrew Bain was a catalyst offensively, finishing 3-for-4 with two RBIs, two runs, a double, a triple, two walks, and a stolen base.

• Cayden Trujillo added three hits, including a double, scored three times, and drove in a run.

• Anthony Hector chipped in two hits and two RBIs, while also stealing a base.

Cerro Coso's power and gap-to-gap hitting stood out, as the Coyotes collected doubles from Bryan London, Wilkes, Bain, and Trujillo, while triples by Encarnacion, Bain, and Chase Scott helped stretch the lead.

On the mound, the Coyotes limited Rio Hondo to just five hits while striking out 13 batters.

• Johnathan Gonzalez earned the start, throwing 4.2 innings, allowing four runs on three hits while striking out four.

• Jacob Rice was dominant in relief, tossing 3.1 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out six to halt any momentum.

• Diego Ramos closed out the game with a perfect ninth inning, striking out three batters.

Defensively, Cerro Coso turned in a steady performance behind the pitching staff, recording 27 putouts and limiting Rio Hondo's opportunities despite a few early hit-by-pitches.

After a scoreless start, the Coyotes broke through in the third inning and exploded in the fourth, sending multiple batters to the plate and forcing Rio Hondo to cycle through its bullpen. Cerro Coso continued to apply pressure late, scoring six runs in the eighth inning to put the game out of reach.

Rio Hondo was held to three RBIs, with runs driven in by Joshua Oh, Anthony Baez, and Nicholas Gonzales, but never regained control after Cerro Coso's offensive surge.

Looking Ahead

Cerro Coso baseball returns to home action on Tuesday January 27th with a 1pm first pitch against Porterville College.