Tuesday, May 16
UC Riverside
9
vs
8
San Diego
Pedroza's 11th Inning Single Caps UCR Comeback
5/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
UC Riverside scored four times in the bottom of the ninth to tie, then won on sophomore SS Jaime Pedroza's two-out bases loaded single in the 11th to rally past visiting University of San Diego 9-8 Tuesday night at the Riverside Sports Complex. The Highlanders win their third consecutive game and sweep the season series over the Toreros to improve to 27-21 while ending USD's regular season at 32-23.
Trailing 8-4 heading into the bottom of the ninth, UCR staged a momentous comeback to send the game into extras. Pedroza started the inning with an epic at-bat, fouling off eight pitches from USD pitcher Josh Butler before doubling to center on Butler's 13th pitch of the at-bat. Senior RF Andy Clay followed with a single, sending Pedroza to third and junior CF Brett Bigler drove in Pedroza with a sacrifice fly for the first out. Back-to-back singles by senior 3B Brian Steinmeyer and junior LF D.J. Hollingsworth brought Clay home but junior INF Kyle Barratt struck out to reduce UCR to its final out. The Highlanders would not succumb, however, as junior INF Nick Salotti singled the first pitch to right to plate Steinmeyer and make it 8-7. Sophomore 2B Drew Garcia then tied the game with a 3-2 chopper up the middle that brought home Hollingsworth. With a runner at third, UCR then had a chance to end the game in regulation but senior C Jeff Abney struck out swinging.
The Highlanders also had the opportunity to end things in the 10th when Pedroza led off with a double to left. After a strikeout and intentional walk, Steinmeyer hit a shot up the middle. But USD shortstop Steve Singleton ranged over to scoop and flip to 2B Keoni Ruth, who bare-handed the ball and fired to first to complete an inning-ending double play.
With one out in the bottom of the 11th, Barratt singled to right off Scott DeNault (1-1). Ricardo Pecina replaced DeNault to face freshman DH Carl Uhl, who laid down a sacrifice bunt but Pecina threw it away, moving runners to second and third. After an intentional walk to pinch-hitting sophomore Jeff Dunbar, Russell Holzhauser became the third Torero pitcher of the inning. He struck out senior C Jeff Abney swinging for out number two, then went to a 3-2 count on Pedroza. The batter won the battle on the next pitch, pulling the ball through the right side to bring home Barratt with the winning run.
Junior RHP Daniel Stange (2-2) picked up the win, throwing 3 1/3 innings and allowing one run on one hit. After serving up a solo home run to Singleton on his very first pitch of the game, Stange settled down to strike out six Toreros.
USD starter Josh Romanski took a no-hitter into the fifth inning before it was finally broken up by Abney's two-out double to left. The Highlanders then took the lead with a four-run sixth. Senior RF Aaron Grant led off with a double, coming home on Bigler's single up the middle. Steinmeyer followed with a single and both runners advanced on a passed ball. Brian Matusz replaced Romanski, only to give up a two-run single to Barratt that tied the game at 3-all. After a single and a sacrifice fly moved Barratt to third, Abney surprised everyone by pushing a two-out bunt single past the mound to give UCR a 4-3 lead.
The advantage would only last until the eighth, however. Ryan Lilly was hit by sophomore LHP Dan Runzler to open the inning. Junior LHP Pat Cassa came on for Runzler and walked Romanski. Steve Buschini then drove a three-run homer over the rightfield fence to give USD a 6-4 lead. Cassa struck out the next two batters before walking Justin Snyder, bringing on Stange, whose very first pitch to Singleton was belted for a two-run homer and an 8-4 Torero lead.
USD used eight pitchers in the evening, with starter Romanski going 5 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on four hits.
UCR junior LHP Marc Rzepczynski got the start, lasting five innings and giving up three runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks while striking out four.
Pedroza and Steinmeyer each collected three hits on the day while Hollingsworth, Barratt, Salotti, and Abney all had two apiece. Both Barratt and Bigler drove in two runs.
Trailing 8-4 heading into the bottom of the ninth, UCR staged a momentous comeback to send the game into extras. Pedroza started the inning with an epic at-bat, fouling off eight pitches from USD pitcher Josh Butler before doubling to center on Butler's 13th pitch of the at-bat. Senior RF Andy Clay followed with a single, sending Pedroza to third and junior CF Brett Bigler drove in Pedroza with a sacrifice fly for the first out. Back-to-back singles by senior 3B Brian Steinmeyer and junior LF D.J. Hollingsworth brought Clay home but junior INF Kyle Barratt struck out to reduce UCR to its final out. The Highlanders would not succumb, however, as junior INF Nick Salotti singled the first pitch to right to plate Steinmeyer and make it 8-7. Sophomore 2B Drew Garcia then tied the game with a 3-2 chopper up the middle that brought home Hollingsworth. With a runner at third, UCR then had a chance to end the game in regulation but senior C Jeff Abney struck out swinging.
The Highlanders also had the opportunity to end things in the 10th when Pedroza led off with a double to left. After a strikeout and intentional walk, Steinmeyer hit a shot up the middle. But USD shortstop Steve Singleton ranged over to scoop and flip to 2B Keoni Ruth, who bare-handed the ball and fired to first to complete an inning-ending double play.
With one out in the bottom of the 11th, Barratt singled to right off Scott DeNault (1-1). Ricardo Pecina replaced DeNault to face freshman DH Carl Uhl, who laid down a sacrifice bunt but Pecina threw it away, moving runners to second and third. After an intentional walk to pinch-hitting sophomore Jeff Dunbar, Russell Holzhauser became the third Torero pitcher of the inning. He struck out senior C Jeff Abney swinging for out number two, then went to a 3-2 count on Pedroza. The batter won the battle on the next pitch, pulling the ball through the right side to bring home Barratt with the winning run.
Junior RHP Daniel Stange (2-2) picked up the win, throwing 3 1/3 innings and allowing one run on one hit. After serving up a solo home run to Singleton on his very first pitch of the game, Stange settled down to strike out six Toreros.
USD starter Josh Romanski took a no-hitter into the fifth inning before it was finally broken up by Abney's two-out double to left. The Highlanders then took the lead with a four-run sixth. Senior RF Aaron Grant led off with a double, coming home on Bigler's single up the middle. Steinmeyer followed with a single and both runners advanced on a passed ball. Brian Matusz replaced Romanski, only to give up a two-run single to Barratt that tied the game at 3-all. After a single and a sacrifice fly moved Barratt to third, Abney surprised everyone by pushing a two-out bunt single past the mound to give UCR a 4-3 lead.
The advantage would only last until the eighth, however. Ryan Lilly was hit by sophomore LHP Dan Runzler to open the inning. Junior LHP Pat Cassa came on for Runzler and walked Romanski. Steve Buschini then drove a three-run homer over the rightfield fence to give USD a 6-4 lead. Cassa struck out the next two batters before walking Justin Snyder, bringing on Stange, whose very first pitch to Singleton was belted for a two-run homer and an 8-4 Torero lead.
USD used eight pitchers in the evening, with starter Romanski going 5 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on four hits.
UCR junior LHP Marc Rzepczynski got the start, lasting five innings and giving up three runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks while striking out four.
Pedroza and Steinmeyer each collected three hits on the day while Hollingsworth, Barratt, Salotti, and Abney all had two apiece. Both Barratt and Bigler drove in two runs.
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