City Gets First Win of New Season

San Diego City earned its first victory of the new season by holding off L.A. Mission 3-1 at Morley Field on Saturday afternoon with starting pitcher Aiden Kuei striking out five and allowing only four hits in six innings of work.

The Knights had dropped their home opener, 8-4, to Chaffey on Friday in a game they nearly erased a 6-run deficit, but they responded well a day later to even their record at 1-1. 

Mission got on the board first with a run in the top of the 2nd, but the Knights answered with their first run in the bottom of the same inning. 

Chris Marquez, who went 3-for-4 against Chaffey, hit a double to center field on his first at-bat against Mission. After advancing to third base on a ground out, Marquez crossed home plate on a single by Elias Robledo.

In the bottom of the 5th, Oliver Faith broke the tie on an RBI-double that put the Knights ahead for good. 

The Knights then added an insurance run in the 6th when Marquez' second hit of the game led to Brandon Manzella scoring from second base after a throwing error by Mission's left fielder.

Ryan Selvaggi relieved Kuei to start the 7th inning and struck out three while allowing one hit in two innings. 

Eli Montgomery closed the game and earned the save after retiring the side in the bottom of the 9th. 

Marquez finished with three hits in four at-bats for the second consecutive game, while Robledo and Anthony Mattheson each recorded two hits. 

The Knights will play their first away game on Tuesday at 2 p.m. at College of the Desert. They will play again at Morley Field on Thursday at 1 p.m.