Saturday, March 25
UC Riverside
10
vs
7
Loyola Marymount
UCR Wins in Return From Layoff, 10-7
3/25/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
UC Riverside jumped on top early and withstood a late rally, beating visiting Loyola Marymount University 10-7 Saturday night at the Riverside Sports Complex. The Highlanders showed no ill effects of a 10-day layoff, improving to 12-9 and dropping the Lions to 11-17 on the season.
The Highlanders scored eight runs in the first two innings, all with two outs. In the first inning, junior DH Nick Salotti put two runs on the board with a bases-loaded single through the left side. Junior 1B Kyle Barratt followed with his second home run of the season, a three-run shot that just cleared the fence in right-center field. UCR tacked on three more runs in the second, all unearned, when sophomore C Jeff Dunbar delivered a bases loaded double to left.
The Lions got to UCR sophomore starter James Simmons (5-1) in the third with three runs, only one of which was earned. A.J. LaMonda provided two of the runs on a double then added a run in the fifth with a solo homer.
LMU put across another run in the sixth thanks to UCR miscues. Eric Farris singled with one out and went to second on a failed pickoff attempt as Dunbar threw the ball into rightfield. Farris then went to third on a groundout and surprised Simmons by stealing home to make it 8-5.
UCR tacked on a run in the sixth to knock out LMU starter Andy Beal (2-5). With one out, junior LF D.J. Hollingsworth tripled to right. Junior CF Brett Bigler followed with a double to right to end Beal’s day.
The Lions weren’t done with their comeback, however, scoring two runs in the eighth to make it 9-7. Erik Johnson led off with a single, advancing to third when UCR sophomore 2B Drew Garcia misplayed a grounder off the bat of Brian Wilson. Johnson then scored on a sacrifice fly by Eric Farris. Two batters later, Nik Garcia flared a hit over first base to plate pinch runner Anthony Soto. That marked the end of the day for Simmons as sophomore LHP Dan Runzler came on with two outs and the tying run at the plate but struck out Casey Gordon to end the threat.
UCR pushed its advantage back to three runs in the bottom of the eighth, loading the bases before senior 3B Brian Steinmeyer hit a sacrifice fly. Senior RF Aaron Grant thought he had driven in two more runs on the next at bat but Gordon made a diving stop to end the inning.
Junior RHP Daniel Stange picked up his team-leading sixth save but not before making it interesting, walking and hitting the first two LMU batters in the ninth. But he got Chris Pettit to fly out to center and struck out Johnson and pinch-hitter Elvis Herrera to end the game.
Simmons gave up seven runs on the night but only two were earned. He allowed a season-high 10 hits in 7 2/3 innings and registered a season low of just one strikeout.
Beal allowed nine runs (six earned) on eight hits. He struck out six but walked five in 5 1/3 innings.
Bigler finished the game 4-for-4 with three stolen bases while Dunbar went 1-for-1 with three RBI and three walks. Barratt also drove in three runs.
The Highlanders scored eight runs in the first two innings, all with two outs. In the first inning, junior DH Nick Salotti put two runs on the board with a bases-loaded single through the left side. Junior 1B Kyle Barratt followed with his second home run of the season, a three-run shot that just cleared the fence in right-center field. UCR tacked on three more runs in the second, all unearned, when sophomore C Jeff Dunbar delivered a bases loaded double to left.
The Lions got to UCR sophomore starter James Simmons (5-1) in the third with three runs, only one of which was earned. A.J. LaMonda provided two of the runs on a double then added a run in the fifth with a solo homer.
LMU put across another run in the sixth thanks to UCR miscues. Eric Farris singled with one out and went to second on a failed pickoff attempt as Dunbar threw the ball into rightfield. Farris then went to third on a groundout and surprised Simmons by stealing home to make it 8-5.
UCR tacked on a run in the sixth to knock out LMU starter Andy Beal (2-5). With one out, junior LF D.J. Hollingsworth tripled to right. Junior CF Brett Bigler followed with a double to right to end Beal’s day.
The Lions weren’t done with their comeback, however, scoring two runs in the eighth to make it 9-7. Erik Johnson led off with a single, advancing to third when UCR sophomore 2B Drew Garcia misplayed a grounder off the bat of Brian Wilson. Johnson then scored on a sacrifice fly by Eric Farris. Two batters later, Nik Garcia flared a hit over first base to plate pinch runner Anthony Soto. That marked the end of the day for Simmons as sophomore LHP Dan Runzler came on with two outs and the tying run at the plate but struck out Casey Gordon to end the threat.
UCR pushed its advantage back to three runs in the bottom of the eighth, loading the bases before senior 3B Brian Steinmeyer hit a sacrifice fly. Senior RF Aaron Grant thought he had driven in two more runs on the next at bat but Gordon made a diving stop to end the inning.
Junior RHP Daniel Stange picked up his team-leading sixth save but not before making it interesting, walking and hitting the first two LMU batters in the ninth. But he got Chris Pettit to fly out to center and struck out Johnson and pinch-hitter Elvis Herrera to end the game.
Simmons gave up seven runs on the night but only two were earned. He allowed a season-high 10 hits in 7 2/3 innings and registered a season low of just one strikeout.
Beal allowed nine runs (six earned) on eight hits. He struck out six but walked five in 5 1/3 innings.
Bigler finished the game 4-for-4 with three stolen bases while Dunbar went 1-for-1 with three RBI and three walks. Barratt also drove in three runs.
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