An awesome effort by Ricky Rodriguez carried the Top Speed Baseball (40-6) to an 8-4 win over the Alameda Merchants (23-18) on Friday at College of Alameda.

Rodriguez blasted two home runs for the Top Speed Baseball. Rodriguez went 3-4 in the game with three RBIs and three runs scored. Rodriguez homered in the sixth and ninth innings.

Matt Smithwick racked up two RBIs on one hit for the Alameda Merchants. He homered in the second inning.

Bret Bowyer improved to 1-0 on the year by picking up the win for the Top Speed Baseball. He allowed two runs over two innings. He struck out one, walked none and surrendered two hits.

Kyle Oden ended up on the wrong side of the pitching decision, charged with his second loss of the year. He lasted just three innings, walked none, struck out two, and allowed five runs.