Friday, March 30
Santa Barbara, CA
3:00 PM
UC Riverside
3
at
5
UC Santa Barbara
Photo by: UCR Athletics Media Relations
Baseball Brings Tying Run To Plate. Can't Complete Comeback In 5-3 Loss
3/30/2012 5:07:00 PM | Baseball
Santa Barbara, CA—The UC Riverside Baseball Team (7-12, 0-1) rallied from a four-run deficit to score two runs in the eighth, and brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but fell to UC Santa Barbara (13-11, 1-0) in the first Big West Conference game for both clubs, 5-3.
Highlanders starter Dylan Stuart (3-3) allowed just seven hits and one walk in seven innings of work, but the baserunners came in bunches leading to five runs off the sophomore left hander.
In the second inning, Greg Mahle laced a one out single to left, and Joey Wallace followed with a single to right center putting runners at the corners. Marc Venning then lifted a fly ball to right that scored Mahle and gave the Gauchos a 1-0 lead.
Two innings later, Brandon Trinkwon led off the fourth with a single to right, and Bryce Tafelski reached on a Stuart error. After a fielder's choice put runners at the corners, Wallace and Venning connected on back-to-back singles to left to make it 3-0 UCSB.
In the meantime, UC Santa Barbara starter Andrew Vasquez was in "bend, but don't break mode" as the Highlanders put runners in scoring position in three of the first four innings. But each time, Vasquez was able to work out of the jam.
UC Riverside finally got to Vasquez in the top of the sixth as Phil Holinsworth led off the inning with a double to left center. One out later, Vince Gonzalez singled to center scoring Holinsworth, but Eddie Young hit into a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat.
The Highlanders had runners on first and second and one out in the top of the seventh, but another double play grounder kept UCR off the scoreboard.
The Gauchos extended their lead in the bottom of the seventh, putting together a two-out rally as Brett Vertigan worked a walk, and Lance Roenicke drilled a homer to left to make it 5-1 UC Santa Barbara.
The Highlanders got both runs back in the top of the eighth off of Jared Wilson who relieved Vasquez the inning prior. Devyn Bolasky singled to open the frame, and one out later, David Andriese sent a Wilson offering over the left field fence to cut the lead in half. One out later, Eddie Young doubled down the right field line, and advanced to third on a passed ball, but UC Riverside couldn't bring him plateward.
In the top of the ninth, Drake Zarate drew a one-out walk, but consecutive fly ball outs by Nick Vilter and Bolasky ended the game.
The Highlanders and Gauchos play game two of their three-game series on Saturday, March 31. First pitch is slated for 1 pm PT.
Highlanders starter Dylan Stuart (3-3) allowed just seven hits and one walk in seven innings of work, but the baserunners came in bunches leading to five runs off the sophomore left hander.
In the second inning, Greg Mahle laced a one out single to left, and Joey Wallace followed with a single to right center putting runners at the corners. Marc Venning then lifted a fly ball to right that scored Mahle and gave the Gauchos a 1-0 lead.
Two innings later, Brandon Trinkwon led off the fourth with a single to right, and Bryce Tafelski reached on a Stuart error. After a fielder's choice put runners at the corners, Wallace and Venning connected on back-to-back singles to left to make it 3-0 UCSB.
In the meantime, UC Santa Barbara starter Andrew Vasquez was in "bend, but don't break mode" as the Highlanders put runners in scoring position in three of the first four innings. But each time, Vasquez was able to work out of the jam.
UC Riverside finally got to Vasquez in the top of the sixth as Phil Holinsworth led off the inning with a double to left center. One out later, Vince Gonzalez singled to center scoring Holinsworth, but Eddie Young hit into a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat.
The Highlanders had runners on first and second and one out in the top of the seventh, but another double play grounder kept UCR off the scoreboard.
The Gauchos extended their lead in the bottom of the seventh, putting together a two-out rally as Brett Vertigan worked a walk, and Lance Roenicke drilled a homer to left to make it 5-1 UC Santa Barbara.
The Highlanders got both runs back in the top of the eighth off of Jared Wilson who relieved Vasquez the inning prior. Devyn Bolasky singled to open the frame, and one out later, David Andriese sent a Wilson offering over the left field fence to cut the lead in half. One out later, Eddie Young doubled down the right field line, and advanced to third on a passed ball, but UC Riverside couldn't bring him plateward.
In the top of the ninth, Drake Zarate drew a one-out walk, but consecutive fly ball outs by Nick Vilter and Bolasky ended the game.
The Highlanders and Gauchos play game two of their three-game series on Saturday, March 31. First pitch is slated for 1 pm PT.
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