Tuesday, April 17
Riverside, CA
6:00 PM
UC Riverside
3
vs
1
UNLV
Photo by: UCR Athletics Media Relations
Highlanders End Slide With 3-1 Victory Over Visiting UNLV
4/17/2012 9:13:00 PM | Baseball
Riverside—The UC Riverside pitching staff was in bend-but-don't-break mode Tuesday evening as four Highlanders pitchers scattered 12 hits but gave up just one run in a 3-1 victory over visiting UNLV.
Trevor Frank got the start for UCR in search of his first win of the season, but he was on a short pitch count leash as he is expected to get the starting nod on Sunday afternoon against UC Davis as well. The right-hander gave the Highlanders three scoreless innings, but they were not without some drama, as the Rebels had runners in scoring position in each of those three frames.
Frank was able to emerge unscathed, however, and he turned the game over to Mark Garcia (1-0) in the top of the fourth. Garcia allowed just one hit and one walk in his three innings of work, and by that time, the Highlanders staked him to a 1-0 lead,
Although UNLV starter John Richy (2-1) allowed just one hit through four innings, UC Riverside pushed a run across in the bottom of the fifth courtesy of a hit batter, a single, a sac bunt, a fielding error and a walk.
Gavin Mills took over for Garcia in the top of the seventh, and he was greeted by a lead-off single off the bat of Danny Higa. After Tyler Blair popped up to short, Casey Sato reached on a bunt single moving Higa up 90 feet, and Trevor Kirk singled through the left side bringing Higa plateward. But UC Riverside left fielder Clayton Prestridge had other ideas as his throw home reached catcher Bart Steponovich on the fly nailing Higa dead to rights.
The Highlanders increased the lead to 2-0 in the seventh inning as Eddie Young hit a rope in the gap to right field bringing Cody Hough home who singled to open the inning.
The Rebels finally got on the board in the top of the eighth as Trent Cook ripped a one-out double to left, and T.J. White's single up the middle scored Cook cutting the Highlanders lead in half.
UC Riverside put up one more run in the eighth inning, but could have scored more had it not been for an unfortunate running gaff. The Highlanders loaded the bases with one out, and Steponovich hit a fly ball to deep left field. Brandon Bayardi made a leaping grab for the ball, but it was difficult to tell if he made the catch or not.
Believing that he hadn't, Kevin Davidson, who began the play on second, retreated to the bag to tag up, but Cody Hough, who had a better angle on what was indeed a non-catch, passed him rounding second. David Andriese scored on the play to put UCR up 3-1, but Hough was declared out for passing Davidson. Nick Vilter then grounded out to end the threat.
Ben Doucette threw a scoreless ninth picking up his first save of the season.
The Highlanders and Rebels finish their two-game series with a 3 pm start on Wednesday, April 18.
Trevor Frank got the start for UCR in search of his first win of the season, but he was on a short pitch count leash as he is expected to get the starting nod on Sunday afternoon against UC Davis as well. The right-hander gave the Highlanders three scoreless innings, but they were not without some drama, as the Rebels had runners in scoring position in each of those three frames.
Frank was able to emerge unscathed, however, and he turned the game over to Mark Garcia (1-0) in the top of the fourth. Garcia allowed just one hit and one walk in his three innings of work, and by that time, the Highlanders staked him to a 1-0 lead,
Although UNLV starter John Richy (2-1) allowed just one hit through four innings, UC Riverside pushed a run across in the bottom of the fifth courtesy of a hit batter, a single, a sac bunt, a fielding error and a walk.
Gavin Mills took over for Garcia in the top of the seventh, and he was greeted by a lead-off single off the bat of Danny Higa. After Tyler Blair popped up to short, Casey Sato reached on a bunt single moving Higa up 90 feet, and Trevor Kirk singled through the left side bringing Higa plateward. But UC Riverside left fielder Clayton Prestridge had other ideas as his throw home reached catcher Bart Steponovich on the fly nailing Higa dead to rights.
The Highlanders increased the lead to 2-0 in the seventh inning as Eddie Young hit a rope in the gap to right field bringing Cody Hough home who singled to open the inning.
The Rebels finally got on the board in the top of the eighth as Trent Cook ripped a one-out double to left, and T.J. White's single up the middle scored Cook cutting the Highlanders lead in half.
UC Riverside put up one more run in the eighth inning, but could have scored more had it not been for an unfortunate running gaff. The Highlanders loaded the bases with one out, and Steponovich hit a fly ball to deep left field. Brandon Bayardi made a leaping grab for the ball, but it was difficult to tell if he made the catch or not.
Believing that he hadn't, Kevin Davidson, who began the play on second, retreated to the bag to tag up, but Cody Hough, who had a better angle on what was indeed a non-catch, passed him rounding second. David Andriese scored on the play to put UCR up 3-1, but Hough was declared out for passing Davidson. Nick Vilter then grounded out to end the threat.
Ben Doucette threw a scoreless ninth picking up his first save of the season.
The Highlanders and Rebels finish their two-game series with a 3 pm start on Wednesday, April 18.
Day in the Life: Leilani Juan
Monday, May 04
UCR Student-Athletes cheer on our students.
Friday, May 01
UCR Athletics Director Introductory Full Press Conference
Tuesday, March 24
Athletics Director Greg Paules Introductory Presentation Recap
Tuesday, March 24
