Sunday, May 14
UC Riverside
16
vs
5
Cal State Northridge
Hollingsworth, Bigler Drive in Four in UCR Romp
5/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Junior LF D.J. Hollingsworth hit a grand slam and junior CF Brett Bigler also drove in four runs as UC Riverside pounded Cal State Northridge 16-5 in a Big West Conference game Sunday afternoon at the Riverside Sports Complex. The Highlanders posted a season-high 16 runs and 21 hits to take the series and improve to 26-21, 7-8 BWC while the Matadors fall to 24-25, 5-10.
The Highlander bats were as scorching as the heat on Mother’s Day, jumping all over CSUN starter Craig Baker (6-8) with five runs in the first two innings. Senior RF Aaron Grant singled to open the first, then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Steve Lemmon. Bigler followed with an RBI groundout to make it 1-0. Senior 3B Brian Steinmeyer and sophomore DH Aaron Wible each singled to put runners on first and third, then executed a double steal, with Steinmeyer sliding in safely under Lemmon’s tag.
CSUN pulled a run back in the second but UCR continued to beat up on Baker, pushing across three with two outs in the second. Sophomore SS Jaime Pedroza got things started with a single, moving to third on a double by Grant. A wild pitch by Baker brought Pedroza home and Bigler’s double made it 4-1. Baker then uncorked another wild pitch as Bigler raced all the way home from second to score.
Northridge would come back with two runs in the fifth but UCR again pulled ahead in the bottom of the frame with three runs of its own. A single by junior 1B Kyle Barratt, a walk, and a single to right by Pedroza loaded the bases and Grant worked the count to 3-2 before walking, forcing in a run. Bigler then bounced a single through the right side to put UCR comfortably ahead, 8-3.
Although the Matadors made it close again with single runs in the sixth and seventh, UCR continued to torment CSUN pitchers, blowing the game open with a seven-run seventh in which it sent 11 batters to the plate. Pedroza led off with a ground-rule double to center off Jimmy Brettl and went to third on Grant’s bunt single. Bigler was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Steinmeyer brought home Pedroza with a single to right. That brought up Hollingsworth, who took a 1-2 pitch from Brettl and deposited over the rightfield fence for his team-leading fifth homer of the season. It was UCR’s first grand slam since Andrew Martinez hit one against Pacific on April 29, 2005
The Highlanders were not done, putting runners on second and third for Pedroza, who hit his second ground-rule double of the inning, this time to left, to make it 15-5. Junior INF Nick Salotti added a pinch-hit solo homer, his second of the year, in the eighth to complete the scoring.
Senior RHP Haley Winter (4-4) was the benefactor of the offensive onslaught. Winter allowed five runs (four earned) on 11 hits in seven innings before giving way to junior LHPs Marc Rzepczynski and Pat Cassa to finish it off.
Baker was tagged for eight runs on 13 hits in five innings while Brettl gave up seven runs (five earned) on six hits in 1 1/3. Bobby Paschal and Kyle Jean worked the final two innings.
Every Highlander started collected at least one hit, led by Pedroza’s first career four-hit game. He went 4-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored. Grant was 3-for-5 with three runs scored at the top of the order while Steinmeyer and Hollingsworth also added three hits apiece. Bigler had his second career four-RBI game.
UCR’s 16 runs were the most this season and highest total since a 16-2 win over UC Davis on March 25, 2005. The 21 hits were also a season high as the Highlanders reached the 20-hit plateau for the first time since banging out 20 on May 25, 2005 vs. UC Santa Barbara
The Highlander bats were as scorching as the heat on Mother’s Day, jumping all over CSUN starter Craig Baker (6-8) with five runs in the first two innings. Senior RF Aaron Grant singled to open the first, then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Steve Lemmon. Bigler followed with an RBI groundout to make it 1-0. Senior 3B Brian Steinmeyer and sophomore DH Aaron Wible each singled to put runners on first and third, then executed a double steal, with Steinmeyer sliding in safely under Lemmon’s tag.
CSUN pulled a run back in the second but UCR continued to beat up on Baker, pushing across three with two outs in the second. Sophomore SS Jaime Pedroza got things started with a single, moving to third on a double by Grant. A wild pitch by Baker brought Pedroza home and Bigler’s double made it 4-1. Baker then uncorked another wild pitch as Bigler raced all the way home from second to score.
Northridge would come back with two runs in the fifth but UCR again pulled ahead in the bottom of the frame with three runs of its own. A single by junior 1B Kyle Barratt, a walk, and a single to right by Pedroza loaded the bases and Grant worked the count to 3-2 before walking, forcing in a run. Bigler then bounced a single through the right side to put UCR comfortably ahead, 8-3.
Although the Matadors made it close again with single runs in the sixth and seventh, UCR continued to torment CSUN pitchers, blowing the game open with a seven-run seventh in which it sent 11 batters to the plate. Pedroza led off with a ground-rule double to center off Jimmy Brettl and went to third on Grant’s bunt single. Bigler was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Steinmeyer brought home Pedroza with a single to right. That brought up Hollingsworth, who took a 1-2 pitch from Brettl and deposited over the rightfield fence for his team-leading fifth homer of the season. It was UCR’s first grand slam since Andrew Martinez hit one against Pacific on April 29, 2005
The Highlanders were not done, putting runners on second and third for Pedroza, who hit his second ground-rule double of the inning, this time to left, to make it 15-5. Junior INF Nick Salotti added a pinch-hit solo homer, his second of the year, in the eighth to complete the scoring.
Senior RHP Haley Winter (4-4) was the benefactor of the offensive onslaught. Winter allowed five runs (four earned) on 11 hits in seven innings before giving way to junior LHPs Marc Rzepczynski and Pat Cassa to finish it off.
Baker was tagged for eight runs on 13 hits in five innings while Brettl gave up seven runs (five earned) on six hits in 1 1/3. Bobby Paschal and Kyle Jean worked the final two innings.
Every Highlander started collected at least one hit, led by Pedroza’s first career four-hit game. He went 4-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored. Grant was 3-for-5 with three runs scored at the top of the order while Steinmeyer and Hollingsworth also added three hits apiece. Bigler had his second career four-RBI game.
UCR’s 16 runs were the most this season and highest total since a 16-2 win over UC Davis on March 25, 2005. The 21 hits were also a season high as the Highlanders reached the 20-hit plateau for the first time since banging out 20 on May 25, 2005 vs. UC Santa Barbara
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