RIPON — Ripon High is looking towards putting behind Tuesday's 13-0 loss to visiting Livingston.
The Wolves (7-2, 14-10 overall) now hold the top spot in the Trans-Valley League standings.
"Regardless of today's score, we're just a game back," said Ripon coach Jacob Rodriguez. "We get to go (to Livingston) and play for the split."
The series finale is scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday.
The Indians (6-3 TVL, 12-8 overall) fell into an immediate hole as the Wolves grabbed a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Starter Cesar Avila helped his cause with an RBI single, while Tyler Garcia drew a bases-loaded walk.
"Being down early took the winds out of our sail," Rodriguez said.
The Wolves sent 10 batters to the plate in that opening frame, making the most of two hits, four walks and a throwing error.
Ripon had trouble against Avila, who set down nine of the first 11 of the first 12 batters he faced before yielding an infield single to Brandon Rainer with two outs and in the fourth.
Devin Bacon of the Indians managed a lead-off single for the Indians in the fifth inning. He was left stranded at third. Prior to that, Livingston also came up empty after leaving the bases loaded.
The Wolves made the most of their opportunities in the sixth, pushing across nine runs on five hits and two errors while blowing the game open.
Avila, in the end, allowed just two hits with 12 strikeouts and one walk.
"He just came back not too long ago," Rodriguez said of Livingston pitcher. "We knew he's a great pitcher — it's unfortunate that we had to face him."
The Wolves collected 12 hits with Memo Avalos, who doubled, along with Cooper Winston, Julian Cabrera, Avila and Garcia getting two each.
Gerald Mix overcame a rough start and kept Livingston scoreless before departing early in the sixth.
"Gerald competed, as did Mason (Azevedo)," said Rodriguez of his two hurlers.