UCR Looks To Climb Big West Ladder With Three-Game Series At UC Irvine

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Irvine, CA—The UC Riverside Baseball Team (14-20, 4-5) jumps back into Big West play this weekend as the Highlanders travel to UC Irvine (20-17, 5-7) for a three-game series beginning Friday at 6:30 pm PT.

UCR moved into a tie for fifth place in conference following last weekend's series win over UC Davis, and trails fourth place Cal Poly (22-17, 6-6) by just half a game.

The Highlanders are coming off of a tough 6-5 loss at #16 San Diego that saw UCR take a 4-3 lead into the eighth and tie the game at five in the top of the ninth, only to give up the go-ahead run on a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the inning.

Vince Gonzalez went four for four in the game to raise his batting average to a team-high .341. His .395 slugging percentage is also tops among UCR regulars.

Dylan Stuart (4-4, 4.07) gets his 10th start of the season on Friday followed by Eddie Orozco (4-4, 2.31) on Saturday afternoon and Trevor Frank (1-5, 3.78) on Sunday.

Conference coaches picked the Anteaters to finish second in the league's preseason poll with three coaches pegging UC Irvine as Big West Champs, but the 'Eaters have struggled since conference play began. UC Irvine, who hasn't finished lower than third in conference since the 2005 season, finds itself in sixth place at the half-way point. The Anteaters have lost three straight and eight of their last 11 overall heading into this weekend's series.

UCI has an offensive slash line of .250/.321/.331 in Big West competition this season compared to an overall line of .267/.364/.356. The Anteaters pitching has also performed worse since the start of conference with an ERA of 4.17 vs. Big West opponents compared to an overall earned run average of 3.47.

Andrew Thurman (4-2, 3.26) gets the start for UC Irvine on Friday, while Crosby Slaught (4-4, 4.29) takes the hill on Saturday. Sunday's starter is TBD. Thurman owns a 2-1 mark and a 3.08 ERA in league play, but Slaught has struggled going 0-2 with an 8.80 ERA.

Thurman and Slaught have combined to start 22 of the 'Eaters 37 games this season, but the remaining 15 have been spread out amongst six other pitchers, none of whom has more than four starts to their credit.

Saturday and Sunday's games are scheduled for 1 pm starts.

UCR Looks To Climb Big West Ladder With Three-Game Series At UC Irvine

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