Photo by: Bobby R. Hester, (c) 2008
Applebee, Kelly Combine For 2-0 Shutout of Cal State Northridge
4/26/2009 3:03:28 PM | Baseball
UC Riverside 2, Cal State Northridge 0 - Box Score
Paul Applebee kept the Matadors off balance for eight and one-third innings to pick up his sixth win of the season and Joseph Kelly nailed down the final two outs for his eighth save of the year in the Highlanders 2-0 win over Cal State Northridge Sunday afternoon. The win gave UCR its first conference series sweep of the season, and also marked the first time ever in Big West play that the Highlanders have shutout an opponent twice in a series.
Applebee scattered four hits and walked one while striking out eight in earning his second shutout of the season. Only one runner advanced into scoring position through the first eight innings off of the Upland, CA native as UC Riverside improved to 24-13 on the year and 5-7 in the Big West.
Across the way, Cal State Northridge starter Billy Ott pitched well enough to win allowing just six hits and one walk while striking out five in a complete-game effort. Carl Uhl was the difference maker offensively for the Highlanders as he scored both UCR runs on the day. The senior from Phelan, CA led off the first with a single to right and advanced to second one batter later when Brian McConkey laced a single to left. After Michael Hur struck out, Uhl and McConkey advanced 90 feet on a wild pitch, and a Ryan Goetz groundout brought Uhl home.
In the third, Uhl led off the inning with a walk and promptly stole second. McConkey's groundout to second advanced Uhl to third, and Hur's groundout to short brought Uhl home for the second run of the game. Uhl now has 156 runs scored in his UCR career - 10th most on the all-time list and second most in the Division I history of the program.
The teams traded zeroes the rest of the way, but not before Cal State Northridge made things interesting in the bottom of the ninth. Jason Dabbs doubled to open the frame, and after Richard Cates fouled out to left, the Highlanders made the move to Kelly out of the bullpen. Ryan Pineda reached on an infield single putting runners at first and second, but John Parham grounded out to third for the second out of the inning. With runners on second and third, Brian Slover hit a grounder to short to end the game.
UC Riverside travels to San Diego on Tuesday, April 28 for a non-conference tilt with the Toreros at 3 pm. They resume Big West Conference play over the weekend with a three-game home series vs. Pacific. Game times are 6 pm Friday and Saturday and 1 pm on Sunday.
NOTES
The series sweep was the first in conference for the Highlanders since they took a trio at Pacific on May 2, 3 and 4, 2008.
Only once in the team's Division I history have they shutout a team more than once in a series - on February 3 and 4, 2006 vs. San Francisco.
Joseph Kelly now has 20 career saves, one off of UCR's career lead of 21 held by Scott Tebbets from 1994-95. His eight saves this season are tied for the seventh most in the history of the program.
The Highlanders lead the Big West with four shutouts this season. It is the most shutouts ever in a single campaign for UCR since making the transition to Division I
Paul Applebee kept the Matadors off balance for eight and one-third innings to pick up his sixth win of the season and Joseph Kelly nailed down the final two outs for his eighth save of the year in the Highlanders 2-0 win over Cal State Northridge Sunday afternoon. The win gave UCR its first conference series sweep of the season, and also marked the first time ever in Big West play that the Highlanders have shutout an opponent twice in a series.
Applebee scattered four hits and walked one while striking out eight in earning his second shutout of the season. Only one runner advanced into scoring position through the first eight innings off of the Upland, CA native as UC Riverside improved to 24-13 on the year and 5-7 in the Big West.
Across the way, Cal State Northridge starter Billy Ott pitched well enough to win allowing just six hits and one walk while striking out five in a complete-game effort. Carl Uhl was the difference maker offensively for the Highlanders as he scored both UCR runs on the day. The senior from Phelan, CA led off the first with a single to right and advanced to second one batter later when Brian McConkey laced a single to left. After Michael Hur struck out, Uhl and McConkey advanced 90 feet on a wild pitch, and a Ryan Goetz groundout brought Uhl home.
In the third, Uhl led off the inning with a walk and promptly stole second. McConkey's groundout to second advanced Uhl to third, and Hur's groundout to short brought Uhl home for the second run of the game. Uhl now has 156 runs scored in his UCR career - 10th most on the all-time list and second most in the Division I history of the program.
The teams traded zeroes the rest of the way, but not before Cal State Northridge made things interesting in the bottom of the ninth. Jason Dabbs doubled to open the frame, and after Richard Cates fouled out to left, the Highlanders made the move to Kelly out of the bullpen. Ryan Pineda reached on an infield single putting runners at first and second, but John Parham grounded out to third for the second out of the inning. With runners on second and third, Brian Slover hit a grounder to short to end the game.
UC Riverside travels to San Diego on Tuesday, April 28 for a non-conference tilt with the Toreros at 3 pm. They resume Big West Conference play over the weekend with a three-game home series vs. Pacific. Game times are 6 pm Friday and Saturday and 1 pm on Sunday.
NOTES
The series sweep was the first in conference for the Highlanders since they took a trio at Pacific on May 2, 3 and 4, 2008.
Only once in the team's Division I history have they shutout a team more than once in a series - on February 3 and 4, 2006 vs. San Francisco.
Joseph Kelly now has 20 career saves, one off of UCR's career lead of 21 held by Scott Tebbets from 1994-95. His eight saves this season are tied for the seventh most in the history of the program.
The Highlanders lead the Big West with four shutouts this season. It is the most shutouts ever in a single campaign for UCR since making the transition to Division I
Thursday, May 21
Monday, May 04
Friday, May 01
Tuesday, March 24
