Friday, April 2
Riverside Sports Complex
6:00 PM
UC Riverside
3
vs
5
Cal Poly
Cal Poly Plates Two In 9th, Two in 10th For 5-3 Win Over UC Riverside
4/2/2010 7:43:36 PM | Baseball
Cal Poly 5, UC Riverside 3 Box Score
Riverside—Cal Poly (8-17, 1-1) was down to its last out in the top of the ninth, but a two run-shot over the center field wall by Mitch Haniger tied the game, and one inning later Matt Jensen plated two more with a triple and the Mustangs had a 5-3 win over UC Riverside (13-9, 1-1).
The Highlanders appeared to have their fifth consecutive win in hand as closer Mike Wolford strode to the mound in the top of the ninth to protect a 3-1 lead. He recorded the first two outs on a pop up to first in foul territory and a grounder to second, but he walked David Van Ostrand to bring the tying run to the plate in the form of Haniger. Haniger drilled a 1-1 offering over the center field fence and the game was tied at three.
Joey Gonzales reached on an infield single to start the bottom of the ninth for UCR, but was unable to score. Wolford took to the mound for his second inning of work in the top of the tenth and walked the first batter, Evan Busby. after striking out the next two batters, Wolford again fell victim to a walk as Bobby Crocker reached to make it runners on first and second for Jensen. Jensen followed with a triple to right center to put the Mustangs up two.
UC Riverside brought the tying tun to the plate in the bottom of the tenth, but were unable to score. Wolford (1-1) took the loss for the Highlanders while Jeff Johnson picked up the win following four innings of three-hit relief in which he allowed just one run.
The loss spoiled another great performance from UC Riverside starter Dustin Emmons. The La Crescenta, CA native pitched the first five innings allowing just four hits and running his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 17.1. He left the game with a 2-0 lead as the Highlanders scored one in the bottom of the first when Joey Gonzales came home on a wild pitch and another in the fifth when Robert Brantly scored on an error by the second baseman Jensen.
Trevor Frank took over for Emmons in the top of the sixth and quickly ran into trouble walking the first two hitters and loading the bases on a bunt single. Jensen's fly ball to right scored one run bringing up Ross Brayton with runners at the corners. Brayton also lifted a fly ball to right, but Crocker was attempting to steal second on the play, and UCR right fielder Mike Nesbitt doubled him up to end the inning with the Highlanders still clinging to a 2-1 lead.
Frank settled down in the seventh retiring the Mustangs in order, and after he gave up a two-out double to Luke Yoder in the eighth, David Speigner came in and recorded the final out of the inning.
Bryan Horst increased the Highlanders cushion to two in the bottom of the eighth when he ripped his second homer of the season over the left field wall setting the stage for Cal Poly's come back in the ninth.
The Highlanders and Mustangs complete their three-game series on Saturday at the Riverside Sports Complex, First pitch is slated for 1 pm PT as UC Riverside honors former head coach Don Edwards prior to the game.
Riverside—Cal Poly (8-17, 1-1) was down to its last out in the top of the ninth, but a two run-shot over the center field wall by Mitch Haniger tied the game, and one inning later Matt Jensen plated two more with a triple and the Mustangs had a 5-3 win over UC Riverside (13-9, 1-1).
The Highlanders appeared to have their fifth consecutive win in hand as closer Mike Wolford strode to the mound in the top of the ninth to protect a 3-1 lead. He recorded the first two outs on a pop up to first in foul territory and a grounder to second, but he walked David Van Ostrand to bring the tying run to the plate in the form of Haniger. Haniger drilled a 1-1 offering over the center field fence and the game was tied at three.
Joey Gonzales reached on an infield single to start the bottom of the ninth for UCR, but was unable to score. Wolford took to the mound for his second inning of work in the top of the tenth and walked the first batter, Evan Busby. after striking out the next two batters, Wolford again fell victim to a walk as Bobby Crocker reached to make it runners on first and second for Jensen. Jensen followed with a triple to right center to put the Mustangs up two.
UC Riverside brought the tying tun to the plate in the bottom of the tenth, but were unable to score. Wolford (1-1) took the loss for the Highlanders while Jeff Johnson picked up the win following four innings of three-hit relief in which he allowed just one run.
The loss spoiled another great performance from UC Riverside starter Dustin Emmons. The La Crescenta, CA native pitched the first five innings allowing just four hits and running his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 17.1. He left the game with a 2-0 lead as the Highlanders scored one in the bottom of the first when Joey Gonzales came home on a wild pitch and another in the fifth when Robert Brantly scored on an error by the second baseman Jensen.
Trevor Frank took over for Emmons in the top of the sixth and quickly ran into trouble walking the first two hitters and loading the bases on a bunt single. Jensen's fly ball to right scored one run bringing up Ross Brayton with runners at the corners. Brayton also lifted a fly ball to right, but Crocker was attempting to steal second on the play, and UCR right fielder Mike Nesbitt doubled him up to end the inning with the Highlanders still clinging to a 2-1 lead.
Frank settled down in the seventh retiring the Mustangs in order, and after he gave up a two-out double to Luke Yoder in the eighth, David Speigner came in and recorded the final out of the inning.
Bryan Horst increased the Highlanders cushion to two in the bottom of the eighth when he ripped his second homer of the season over the left field wall setting the stage for Cal Poly's come back in the ninth.
The Highlanders and Mustangs complete their three-game series on Saturday at the Riverside Sports Complex, First pitch is slated for 1 pm PT as UC Riverside honors former head coach Don Edwards prior to the game.
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