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(April 1, 2003) -USC freshman
Jeff Clement went 3-for-5 with a double, home run and two
RBI Tuesday and the Trojans defeated the visiting UC Riverside
Highlanders, 9-4, in non-conference action at Dedeaux Field
Tuesday. USC improved to 15-16 overall while UC Riverside
fell to 22-7 on the season.
The Trojans received a strong
outing by Fraser Dizard (4-2), who gave up three runs (one
earned) on three hits in six innings with one walk and seven
strikeouts. Josh Rummonds earned his second save by allowing
only one run on two hits in three innings. UC Riverside's
Brian Hoff (3-3) took the loss after allowing six runs on
eight hits in 4 1/3 innings.
UC Riverside scored two
runs in the first on back-to-back errors by USC's Jon Brewster
and Anthony Lunetta. Down 3-2 in the fourth, senior right
fielder David Gordon tied the game for the Trojans with a
solo shot to left, his seventh on the season. USC took the
lead in the fifth with three runs, including Clement's two-run
shot off the Dedeaux Field scoreboard in right center.
The Highlanders open Big
West play on Friday with a three-game series at Cal Poly.
(April 4, 2003) - SAN LUIS
OBISPO, CA --The UC Riverside Highlanders blew a 6-0 lead,
but came back to win it's sixth straight extra inning game
of the season as first baseman Kevin Mangels singled in the
winning run in the top of the 12th inning to help the Highlanders
to an 8-7 win over Cal Poly in the Big West Conference opener
in San Luis Obispo Friday.
The Highlanders improved
to 23-7 with the win, while Cal Poly fell to 18-14-1. Freshman
southpaw Chad Decker, in just his third appearance of the
season, earned the win with 3 1/3 scoreless innings of one-hit
pitching. Nolan Moser, who went five innings in relief of
starter Tyler Fitch, took the loss.
Third baseman Tony Festa
opened the 12th with a double to right field and scored on
Mangels' single up the middle. The Highlanders went on to
load the bases, but a line drive to shortstop and an infield
popup ended the threat.
In the bottom of the 12th
Mustang third baseman Josh Mayo singled with two outs and
moved to second on a balk, but right fielder Chalon Tietje
grounded out to shortstop, ending the game.
UC Riverside outhit Cal
Poly 15-8, led by shortstop Randy Blood with four hits, including
a triple. Right fielder Ryan Harvey added three hits while
center fielder Brian Wahlbrink, Mangels and second baseman
Scott Powis each had a pair of hits. Wahlbrink and Harvey
opened the game with back-to-back solo home runs.
Cal PolyÌs top hitter was
designated hitter Bret Berglund with two hits. He drove in
two runs with a single up the middle to highlight Cal PolyÌs
five-run fourth-inning rally and belted a two-run home run
in the sixth to give the Mustangs a 7-6 lead.
(April 5, 2003) - SAN LUIS
OBISPO, CA -- After squandering a 7-1 lead, Cal Poly broke
a 7-7 tie with a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth
inning and beat UC Riverside 9-7
in the second game of a three-game Big West Conference baseball
series Saturday afternoon in Baggett Stadium. The Mustang
win evened the series at a game apiece. Cal Poly improved
to 19-14-1 and 1-1 in the Big West while UC Riverside fell
to 23-8 and 1-1.
Center fielder Sam Herbert
opened the eighth with a triple to left-center field and scored
on a sacrifice fly to right by shortstop Scott Anderson. Second
baseman Adam Leavitt followed with a single, stole second
and scored on an error.
Cal Poly scored five times
in the first inning -- highlighted by junior first baseman
Kyle Wilson’s two-run single and RBI singles by Leavitt
and junior third baseman Josh Mayo -- and added single runs
in the second and third frames for its 7-1 advantage. Mayo
had an RBI double in the second and freshman designated hitter
Bret Berglund singled up the middle to knock in the third-inning
tally.
UC Riverside climbed back
into the game with three in the fourth, one in the seventh
and two in the eighth. First baseman Kevin Mangels -- the
hero of Friday’s 12-inning 8-7 Highlander win with an
RBI single up the middle -- doubled to left center to drive
in two runs and tie the game at 7-7 in the eighth.
Mangels and center fielder
Brian Wahlbrink each had three hits for UC Riverside. Right
fielder Ryan Harvey and designated hitter Mason Collette added
two hits apiece.
The win went to sophomore
right-hander Tony Saipe (1-0), his first collegiate decision.
Cal Poly’s third pitcher of the game, Saipe allowed
one hit in 1 2/3 scoreless innings. UC Riverside starter Dan
Ellis was chased in the third inning after giving up seven
runs, all earned, and nine hits in two-plus innings. Junior
righthander Brian Hoff (3-4) pitched 5 1/3 innings in relief
of Ellis, allowing two runs and seven hits with five strikeouts
and one walk, but was tagged with the loss as he gave up the
two runs in the eighth.
Highlander head coach Jack
Smitheran was ejected in the fifth inning on a controversial
foul ball call while assistant coach Doug Smith was tossed
in the fourth frame after Mangels was called out for being
hit by a pitch while he was outside the batter’s box.
The series finale is Sunday
at 1 p.m. in Baggett Stadium, with Cal Poly freshman southpaw
Garrett Olson (3-0, 4.02 ERA) to face UC Riverside senior
right-hander Julio Fernandez (2-0, 3.38 ERA).
(April 6, 2003) - SAN LUIS
OBISPO, CA --- Pat Breen, Kyle Wilson and Alex Chavarria all
belted home runs to lead Cal Poly to a 7-4 victory over UC
Riverside in the rubber game of the Big West Conference baseball
series Sunday afternoon in Baggett Stadium.
With the win, Cal Poly improved
to 20-14-1 for the season and 2-1 in the Big West. UC Riverside,
which came into the series ranked 35th by the National College
Baseball Writers Association, fell to 23-9 and 1-2.
The win went to Mustang
freshman southpaw Garrett Olson, who improved to 4-0 by allowing
four runs and nine hits in eight innings. He struck out four.
Nolan Moser pitched a scoreless ninth. Senior right-hander
Julio Fernandez (2-1) suffered the loss, giving up six runs
and 10 hits in seven-plus innings. He also struck out four.
UC Riverside right fielder
Ryan Harvey went hitless in four at-bats and saw his 20-game
hitting streak come to an end
.Breen, a junior outfielder,
hit a solo shot leading off the third inning to snap a 3-3
tie while Wilson added another solo shot, his fourth of the
year and 18th of his Mustang career, two outs later to give
Cal Poly a 5-3 lead. Chavarria's two-run blast in the eighth,
his sixth of the campaign, gave Cal Poly a pair of insurance
runs.
UC Riverside scored twice
in the top of the first inning on a leadoff home run by Brian
Wahlbrink, his seventh of the year, and an RBI double by Randy
Blood. Cal Poly countered with three runs in the bottom of
the first on a bases-loaded double by Breen down the right-field
line. The Highlanders tied the game at 3-3 in the third when
Wahlbrink doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Tony Festa.
Solo home runs by Breen
and Wilson snapped the deadlock in the bottom of the third.
A sacrifice fly by Brian Emmons in the fourth cut Cal Poly's
lead to 5-4 and it remained that way until Chavarria greeted
relief pitcher Haley Winter with his two-run blast in the
eighth.
(April 8, 2003) - Tony Festa
and Andy Clay hit homers and the UC Riverside Highlanders
snapped a two game losing streak with a 9-4 non-conference
win over the University of Nevada, Las Vegas at the Riverside
Sports Complex Tuesday.
The Highlanders opened the
scoring in the first as Brian Wahlbrink led off with a double
and came home on an RBI groundout by Tony Festa. The Highlanders
added three in the second as Matt Cunningham stroked a two
run single and later came home on an RBI groundout by Ryan
Harvey.
Eddie Gill got the Rebels
on the board with a two run homer in the top of the sixth
inning, but the Highlanders responded as Clay stroked a line
drive down the left field line to give the Highlanders a 5-2
lead. Festa then crushed a two-run shot in the bottom of the
seventh to build the lead to 7-2.
The Rebels received a gift
in the eighth inning as with two outs, pinch hitter Garrett
Shitanishi appeared to fly out to center with runners on first
and third. However, pitcher Rich Hofman was called for a balk,
allowing Patrick Dobson to score and keeping the inning alive.
Shitanishi followed with a single to center to score Ryan
Ruiz and cut the score to 7-4.
The Highlanders added a
pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth, as Brian
Emmons and Ryan Harvey stroked RBI singles.
Haley Winter (3-1) was awarded
the win as he threw 2.2 innings in relief of starterJaymie
Torres, who threw a planned single inning as the Highlanders
"staffed" the game. Adam Lesko took the loss, surrendering
four runs in one-plus inning of work.
The Highlanders return to
action on Friday as they host UC Santa Barbara in a three
game series. Friday's game begins at 7:00 PM.
(April 11, 2003) - The UC
Riverside Highlanders used a four-run seventh inning to give
them a 4-3 win over the visiting UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
at the Riverside Sports Complex Friday in the opening game
of their three-game Big West series.
With the win the Highlanders
moved to 25-9 overall and 2-2 in the Big West, while the Gauchos
fell to 18-16, 1-3.
The Gauchos had a 3-0 lead
behind starter Sean Thompson entering the seventh. With one
out Brian Emmons and Scott Powis had back-to-back singles,
and Brian Wahlbrink chased them home moments later with a
two-run triple off the base of the wall in right field. The
blow cut the score to 3-2 and sent Thompson to the showers.
Ryan Harvey then greeted reliever Jared Edrosolan (0-3) with
a line single to right to tie the game at 3-3.
Tony Festa then singled
to right to put runners at the corners and Kevin Mangels knocked
home the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly to center field.
UCR starter Jaymie Torres
was the beneficiary of the outburst, earning his sixth win
of the season against one loss. Torres allowed three runs,
two earned, on five hits, striking out six and walking none.
The Gauchos opened the scoring
in the second when Brian Adams connected for his third home
run of the season, a solo shot to right field. They added
a second run in the fourth as Matt Wilkerson singled, stole
second and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher
Emmons, then came home on a RBI single by Chris Malec. They
built the lead to 3-0 in the sixth when Josh McCanne was hit
by a pitch and came home on an error by first baseman Mangels.
The win was Torres' first
complete game of the season and the team's second. The Highlanders
got great production from the bottom of the order, as Emmons
went 4-for-4 and Powis was 3-for-4.
The teams return to action
on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 PM.
(April 12, 2003) -Sophomore
AJ Shappi pitched a complete game gem and sophomore Matt Cunningham
drilled a two-run home run in the fourth inning to propel
the Highlanders to a 10-2 victory over the Gauchos of Santa
Barbara at the UC Riverside Baseball Complex on Saturday.
The win propelled the Highlanders
to a 26-9 record, upping their mark to 3-2 in the Big West.
UCSB falls to 18-17, 1-4 in the Big West.
Santa Barbara jumped out
to an early 2-0 lead in the third when shortstop Josh Fulton
tripled home Chad Ziemendorf to put the Gauchos on the board.
A Brian Adams groundout chased home Fulton to put UCSB up
a pair.
But UCR took the lead in
the bottom half, scoring three runs as Santa Barbara'’s
defense fell apart. Scot Powis reached on an error to lead
off the inning. Brian Wahlbrink followed with a walk and Ryan
Harvey smashed a run-scoring double to put the Highlanders
on the board. Wahlbrink then scored on Tony Festa's sacrifice
fly to knot the game at two, with UCR taking the lead as Harvey
scored on consecutive wild pitches.
Cunningham broke the game
open in the fourth lining a two-run home run to left field
for a 5-2 lead.
The three run cushion was
more than enough for Shappi who went the distance, allowing
just two runs on seven hits while striking out six in picking
up his seventh win of the season.
UCR would tally four more
in the sixth with Cunningham once again doing most of the
damage, tripling in Jason Collette and scoring on a RBI single
by Brian Emmons. Two outs later, Kevin Mangles singled in
two to push the lead to 9-2. Collette singled and scored in
the seventh to complete the scoring.
Cunningham finished the
day 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI, while Collette
collected four hits on the day and scored three runs.
Steve Morlock took the loss
for the Gauchos, allowing five runs in four innings.
The Highlanders look to
complete the three game sweep of Santa Barbara tomorrow, sending
Julio Fernandez (2-1, 4.06) to the hill to face the Gauchos
Ivan Ramirez (2-0, 2.35). First pitch is slated for noon at
the Riverside Baseball Complex.
(April 12, 2003) -The UC
Riverside Highlanders scored five runs in the first two innings
and eight runs in the sixth inning to propel them to a 18-4
win over the visiting UC Santa Barbara Gauchos at the UC Riverside
Sports Complex Sunday. With the win the Highlanders (27-9,
4-2) swept the three game series from UCSB (18-18, 1-5).
The Highlanders
jumped on UCSB starter and eventual loser Ivan Ramirez (2-1)
for four runs in the first. Centerfielder Brian Wahlbrink
led off with a single and came home on a double by right fielder
Ryan Harvey. Third baseman Tony Festa was hit by pitch, and
the duo advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. Shortstop
Randy Blood followed with an two-run single, then came home
a few moments later on an RBI double by designated hitter
Jason Collette.
Catcher Brian Emmons mashed
his fourth homer of the season to lead off the second, giving
the Highlanders a 5-0 lead.
The Gauchos scored a pair
of runs off of starter Julio Fernandez in the second as Bill
Rowe had an RBI single and Chris Malec followed with a sacrifice
fly to cut the lead to 5-2.
The Highlanders scored again
in the fourth on an RBI single by Wahlbrink, then added two
in the fifth on left fielder Matt Cunningham's fifth homer
of the season and an RBI single by Harvey to move the lead
to 8-2.
The game was blown open
in the sixth as the Highlanders sent 11 batters to the plate,
scoring eight runs, capped by a grand slam by first baseman
Kevin Mangels to make the score 16-4.
The Gauchos scored a pair
of runs in the seventh, and the Highlanders added to their
total on pinch-hitter Jeff Crinklaw's first homer of the season,
a two run shot to left.
Fernandez was the beneficiary
of the outburst, recording his third win of the season against
one loss. The senior allowed six hits and four runs in 6.1
innings, striking out four. John Martinez, Rich Hofman, Jose
Shaw and Haley Winter pitched the final 2.2 innings to wrap
up the game. Shaw's eighth inning appearance was his first
collegiate action, coming off of elbow reconstruction surgery
last season.
Every Highlander starter
had a hit and score a run, as they rapped out 20 hits on the
afternoon. The total was their third highest of the season,
while the 18 runs was their second highest of the campaign.
The Highlanders also had back-to-back games with double-digit
runs for the first time since March 16 and 22.
UCR returns to action on
Tuesday as they host Pepperdine at the Riverside Sports Complex.
First pitch will be at 6:00 PM.
(April 15, 2003) -The UC
Riverside Highlanders saw their four game winning streak come
to an end Tuesday as the visiting Pepperdine Waves handed
them a 12-3 loss at the Riverside Sports Complex Tuesday.
With the loss the Highlanders dropped to 27-10.
The Waves (23-15)
scored once in the first, twice in the third and fourth, four
times in the seventh and three times in the ninth, pounding
out 18 hits along the way. Riverside scored single runs in
the first, third and eighth.
Brian Hoff took the loss
for the Highlanders, throwing 2.2 innings and allowing six
hits and three runs. Jason Johnson got the win for Pepperdine,
throwing five innings and allowing seven hits and two runs.
Shortstop Kevin Estrada led the offensive onslaught for the
Waves, going 4-for-6 with a pair of runs.
UCR returns to action on
Thursday as they travel to Northridge for a three game series
against the Matadors. First pitch on Thursday is 1:00 PM.
(April 17, 2003) - The Highlanders
took advantage of four Cal State Northridge errors which led
to four unearned runs as UCR cruised to a 5-2 win in a Big
West contest at Matador Field Thursday.
The Highlanders (28-10,
5-2) jumped on the board first with two runs in the third
inning and added runs in the fifth, seventh and eighth innings.
Riverside was led at the plate by designated hitter Jason
Collette and center fielder Brian Wahlbrink. Collette went
2-for-4 with a run scored while Wahlbrink finished 2-for-3
with a stolen base. Right fielder Ryan Harvey had two RBI
and second baseman Scott Powis added three runs.
The five runs would prove
to be enough as Riverside starter Jaymie Torres went the distance,
holding the Matadors (8-33, 2-5) to two runs on nine hits
while striking out six.
Northridge starter Eddy
Camacho was victimized by a shaky Matador defense with the
junior allowing five runs (one earned) in seven-and-two-thirds
innings. Senior Scott Robertson threw an inning-and-a-third
of scoreless relief. The Matadors were led by sophomore John
Voita, with the right fielder going 3-for-4 at the plate with
two doubles and an RBI. Shortstop Jesse Perez went 2-for-3
for the day while catcher Brett Cayton ended the game 1-for-3
with a run scored.
Northridge will face off
with Riverside Friday in game two of its three-game Big West
Conference series at Matador Field. Game time is scheduled
for 3 p.m.
(April 18, 2003) - The UC
Riverside Highlanders pounded four Cal State Northridge pitchers
for 19 hits and 13 runs en route to a 13-3 Big West Conference
win over the Matadors at Matador Field Friday. The win pushed
UCR to 29-10 in the Big West, while Northridge fell to 8-34,
2-6.
UCR starting pitcher AJ
Shappi was the beneficiary of the offensive explosion, improving
his record to 8-1 on the season. However, he didn't need much
help. Shappi scattered nine hits and just two runs in eight
innings of work, striking out eight and walking none. He had
a six-hit shutout for seven innings before the Matadors touched
him for a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth. Haley
Winter came in to pitch the ninth, allowing a single run on
a pair of hits.
The Highlanders opened the
scoring in the second on an RBI double by Jason Collette,
followed by an RBI single by Matt Cunningham. A fielder's
choice ground-out by Randy Blood knocked in the third run
in the third inning.
The Highlanders struck for
three runs off of starter and loser Kyle Jean (0-6) in the
fourth inning. Centerfielder Brian Wahlbrink mashed a two-run
homer to score Scott Powis, then moments later Ryan Harvey
made it back-to-back bombs with a solo shot to make it 6-0
and send Jean to the showers.
The Highlanders weren't
done, however. Reliever Jimmy Brettl was tagged for back-to-back
homers in the sixth, a three-run shot by Kevin Mangels followed
by a solo blast by Blood to make the score 10-0. UCR added
three more runs in the seventh on an RBI ground out by Harvey
and a two run single by Tony Festa.
Harvey led the Highlanders
with four hits and four runs in five at bats, while Mangles
and Cunningham each had three hit days.
The Highlanders will go
for the sweep Saturday at 1:00 PM at Matador Field. The game
will be broadcast on tape delay at 7:00 PM on KPRO, 1570 with
Dale Parsons and Dan Hubbard calling the action.
(April 19, 2003) - The Cal
State Northridge Matadors salvaged the final game of a three-game
Big West series, defeating the Highlanders 10-3 at Matador
Field Saturday.
Northridge (9-34, 3-6)
never trailed and led 6-2 before putting the game out of reach
with a four-run seventh inning. With the loss, the Highlanders
fell to 29-11, 6-3.
The Matadors roughed up
Riverside starter Julio Fernandez, tagging the senior for
six runs on eight hits in five-and-a-third innings. Highlander
relievers Chad Decker and Rich Hofman combined to allow a
total of four runs in only one inning of work.
Northridge starter Leo Rosales
dominated the Riverside lineup allowing only two runs while
striking out nine in seven innings of work. The only runs
scored on the senior were two solo home runs to right field.
Junior Eric Foxman threw an inning of hitless relief.
The Highlanders' lone highlight
of the afternoon came in the sixth inning as the Highlanders
blasted back-to-back homers for the second day in a row. This
time it was Tony Festa and Kevin Mangels pulling the trick
to lead off the frame. Aaron Grant accounted for the Highlanders
third run, knocking in Jason Collette in the ninth inning.
The Highlanders return to
action on Tuesday at UNLV.
(April 22, 2003) - The UC
Riverside Highlanders cruised to their 30th win of the season
with a decisive 12-4 win over the host UNLV Rebels in Las
Vegas Tuesday.
UCR moved to 30-11 overall,
while UNLV, ranked 20th in the nation by Baseball America,
fell to 32-12. It was just the fourth loss at home for the
Rebels this season.
The Highlanders got a strong
start from redshirt freshman Jose Shaw, who got the win after
not allowing a hit in three innings of work. Giovanni Pupo
(3-1) was the starter and loser for the Rebels.
First baseman Kevin Mangels
mashed his Big West leading 10th homer of the season in the
fifth, a two-run shot, to give the Highlanders a 7-0 lead.
In all, the Highlanders pounded out 17 hits. In contrast,
Highlander pitchers held the Rebels to seven hits while striking
out 11.
The Highlanders return to
action on Friday for a three-game series with Pacific.
(April 25, 2003) - The UC
Riverside Highlanders opened a three-game series with the
University of the Pacific in fine fashion, posting a 10-1
win at the Riverside Sports Complex Friday. With the win the
Highlanders moved to 31-11, 7-3 in the Big West, while Pacific
fell to 24-18, 4-7.
UCR starter Jaymie Torres
moved to 8-1 on the season, allowing just three hits and one
run in 7.2 innings of work. Torres struck out 10 and did not
allow a ball out of the infield until the sixth inning. Dan
Ellis pitched 1.1 innings in relief of Torres, striking out
two. UOP starter Matt Pena took the loss, falling to 8-5.
UOP threatened in the third
inning, as they loaded the bases with one out against Torres
on a bunt single, a walk and a hit batsmen. HoweverTorres
managed to induce Collin Headley into a fielders choice at
the plate for the second out, then struck out Cory Lake to
end the threat.
UCR built on the momentum,
scoring five times in the bottom of the third. Tony Festa
singled home Brian Wahlbrink, who had struck out but reached
on a wild pitch, then advanced to second when Ryan Harvey
was hit by a pitch. Mangles followed Festa with a walk to
load the bases, and Randy Blood knocked in the second run
of the inning with a line shot to right. Jason Collette followed
with a sacrifice fly to score Festa, then Matt Cunningham
cleared the bases with a double over the centerfielder's head.
The Highlanders added to
the lead in the fourth as Wahlbrink singled with one out,
then advanced to third on a single by Harvey, who went to
second on the throw. Festa knocked in Wahlbrink on a fielders
choice, reaching as the throw from the second baseman went
wide. Moments later Mangels hammered a shot to the warning
track, where it was caught by left fielder Eric Elliott, scoring
Harvey for a 7-0 UCR lead.
UCR added to the lead in
the sixth as Scott Powis hammered his first homer of the season,
scoring Brian Emmons, who had singled. The 10th run came in
as Collette's bases loaded groundout scored Harvey in the
bottom of the sixth.
Pacific got their first
legit hit of the game off of Torres in the sixth inning, as
Josh Shook singled to center and came around on an RBI single
by Cory Lake.
Wahlbrink led the Highlanders
with three hits in five at bats to raise his batting average
to .409.
The series continues Saturday
at 1:00 PM.
(April 26, 2003) -The UC
Riverside Highlanders used a four-run third inning rally and
a five-run sixth inning outburst to support starter AJ Shappi’s
7.2 solid innings to take game two of the weekend series with
the University of Pacific Tigers 10-2 at the Riverside Sports
Complex on Saturday.
UOP (24-19, 4-7) took a
1-0 lead in the top of the second as Cory Lake singled, moved
to second on a wild pitch and scored after back-to-back ground
outs to second baseman Scot Powis.
But UCR (32-11, 8-3) came
roaring back in the bottom of the third, batting around for
four runs. With one out, Ryan Harvey was hit-by-a-pitch for
the 14th time this season, a new UCR single season record,
moving to third on a single by Tony Festa. Kevin Mangels singled
in Harvey and Randy Blood walked to load the bases. Jason
Collette hit a sharp grounder to first to score Festa and
give the Highlanders a 2-1 lead. Matt Cunningham singled to
load the bases and Brian Emmons hammered a double to right
plating Mangels and Blood giving UCR a three run lead.
The Tigers cut the lead
to two in the fourth as Aaron Harper drew a two out walk and
moved to third on a single by Jesse Kovacs that just stayed
out of reach of a diving Powis at second base. James Stanford
hit a line drive just out of the reach of Blood at shortstop,
and Harper scored to bring the Tigers within two.
UCR got the run back in
the bottom half of the inning, as Brian Wahlbrink took a 2-2
pitch and planted it in the netting in left field, his ninth
homer of the season, and a 5-2 UCR lead.
The Highlanders broke the
game open in the sixth plating five more runs with Festa knocking
in two with a double and Blood chasing home two more with
a single.
The eight run cushion proved
plenty for Shappi, cruising to his ninth win of the season
with 7.2 innings, surrendering two runs on four hits and striking
out four. Brian Hoff pitched the final 1.1 innings in relief.
UOP starter Sergio Silva
(4-6) took the loss, surrendering all 10 runs on 11 hits in
just 5.1 innings.
The series continues Sunday
at 1:00 PM.
(April 27, 2003) -The UC
Riverside Highlanders rallied from an early five run deficit
to knot the game at nine in the eighth, only to watch UOP
push two runs across in the ninth – on a two out fly
ball that was lost in the sun – as UOP salvaged the
final game of the series 11-9 at the Riverside Sports Complex
on Sunday.
Trailing 9-5 in the eighth,
the Highlanders (32-12) came all the way back, to put up four
runs in the inning to knot the score at nine all. Senior Brian
Emmons led off with a homerun to cut the lead to three and
Scott Powis and Brian Wahlbrink followed with back-to-back
doubles to bring UCR within two. Ryan Harvey singled in Wahlbrink,
and moved into scoring position on a fly ball by Kevin Mangles.
Randy Blood’s two out single tied the score at nine.
In the ninth, UCR pitcher
Rich Hofman (0-1) surrendered a double to Eric Elliot to lead
off the inning, but forced Elliot at third on an attempted
sacrifice bunt by Josh Snook. Snook was then thrown out trying
to steal for the second out of the inning. Chase Headley followed
with a double and Cory Lake skied what looked like the final
out of the inning to right, but right fielder Ryan Harvey
lost the ball in the sun, allowing Headly to score and give
the Tigers a 10-9 lead. Lake moved to third on the play and
scored on a wild pitch as UOP (25-19, 5-7) won a wild game
11-9.
The game was a pitcher’s
duel early as the two clubs were tied at one heading into
the fifth when UOP batted around for five runs, knocking Highlander
starter Julio Fernandez out of the contest. Fernandez walked
the first hitter and surrendered back-to-back singles to Josh
Snook and Chase Headley to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.
Fernandez was lifted in
favor of reliever Brian Hoff and Lake laid down a sacrifice
bunt to put the runners in scoring position. Aaron Harper
followed with a double to left center as UOP took a 4-1 lead.
Jesse Kovacs singled in Harper, moved to third on an error
by right fielder Ryan Harvey before scoring on a single by
Adam Ringer giving the Tigers a 6-1 lead.
UCR crept within three in
the bottom half, on a RBI single by Harvey and a RBI ground
out by Tony Festa to bring the score to 6-3. UOP pushed a
run across the following inning on a Lake RBI single, but
in the bottom half Matt Cunningham tripled in a run and scored
to cut the UOP lead to 7-5. UOP added two runs in the seventh
before UCR rallied in the eight.
Andy Willick (4-0) earned
the win for UOP. The two teams combined for 39 hits led by
UOP’s Headly with four, and UCR’s Harvey and Powis,
also with four.
The Highlanders return to
action on Tuesday, playing host to Tony Gwynn’s San
Diego Aztecs at 6:00 PM.
(April 29, 2003) -It was
a day of redemption for two Highlanders as second baseman
Scott Powis delivered a game-winning RBI double in the eighth
and right fielder Ryan Harvey made a game-saving ninth inning
catch to give UCR an 8-6 win at the UCR Baseball Complex on
Tuesday.
Trailing 6-3 entering the
ninth, UCR (33-12) put two runners on by way of a hit batsmen
and a walk withboth runners advanced on a fly out by Randy
Blood. Jason Collette singled to bring the score to 6-4 and
Matt Cunningham followed with a single to load the bases.
Senior Brian Emmons tied the score with a two-run single,
bringing Powis to the plate.
Powis, who had a tough 2002
campaign and struggled to start 2003, hit a frozen rope past
third baseman Chad Corona to cap an impressive month with
a game winning RBI double. The junior second baseman has raised
his batting average 150 points this month, scoring a team
high 19 runs with six RBI since making the switch from shortstop
on April 1.
Brian Wahlbrink added a
sacrifice fly to put UCR up 8-6 but San Diego State (21-25)
made it interesting in the ninth, getting back-to-back singles
with two outs to put the tying run on base. Designated Hitter
Jon Stevens hit a drive into right field and Harvey, whose
ninth inning error allowed the winning runs to score on Sunday,
made an impressive sliding catch to preserve the win, giving
Dan Ellis his first career save.
The game was not going the
Highlanders’ way early, trailing 6-3 for much of the
game. SDSU got on the board first, scoring a single run in
the second when the third out of the inning was negated by
a UCR starter Jose Shaw balk. Given new life. Curt Mendoza
singled and the Aztecs held a 1-0 lead.
UCR put three runs on the
board in the bottom half with Blood scoring on an errant throw,
and Emmons and Powis collecting RBI hits with two outs in
the inning.
The lead was short lived,
however, as SDSU batted around for five runs in the top of
the third, sending all nine hitters to the plate, collecting
four hits to send Shaw to the showers.
The game stood at 6-3 until
the eighth as Highlander reliever Brian Hoff threw 3.2 solid
innings of relief, and the Aztecs’ middle reliever Ben
Leuthard tossed three scoreless innings as well. Freshman
Chad Decker (3-0) earned the win, shutting down SDSU in the
eighth and Erick Eigenhuis took the loss.
The Highlanders return to
action on Friday hosting a three game series with the number
one ranked Cal State Fullerton Titans. First pitch is slated
for 7:00 PM.
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