Saturday, April 6
1:00 PM
UC Riverside
1
at
3
Cal State Northridge
Photo by: Gabriel L. Acosta
Baseball Bangs Out Nine Hits But Drops 3-1 Decision At Cal State Northridge
4/6/2013 5:33:00 PM | Baseball
Northridge—Offense was at a premium again Saturday afternoon at Matador Field, and the UC Riverside Baseball Team found itself on the short end of a 3-1 decision, dropping its second straight conference game after opening the season 3-0 (Box Score).
Ben Doucette (1-2) had one of his best starts of the season going seven-and-a-third innings and allowing just four hits. He also didn't walk a batter and struck out seven on the day.
The Highlanders (14-12, 3-2) offense, meanwhile, banged out nine hits and drew three walks, but could only push across a single run. In the top of the first Francisco Tellez drew a one-out walk, and Clayton Prestridge's single through the right side put moved Tellez into scoring position. David Andriese then hit a liner down to first, but it was caught, and Prestridge was doubled off of first to end the threat.
UC Riverside put a runner in scoring position again in the top of the second as Cody Hough singled up the middle with one out, stole second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch, but Matadors starter Calvin Copping struck out the final two batters of the inning, to keep the score tied at zero.
In the top of the third, Tellez picked up his second base knock of the game tripling to center with two outs, but Prestridge was unable to bring him home.
CSUN (15-15, 3-2) broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the third, as Doucette plunked the first two batters, and gave up a single to Michael Najera that scored Chester Pak putting the Matadors up 1-0.
The Highlanders managed to tie the game the next half inning loading the bases with one out. Joe Chavez then beat out an infield single to tie the score.
In the top of the fifth, UCR again put a runner in scoring scoring position as Devyn Bolasky began the inning with a single and stole second, but Copping struck out the next two hitters, and got Andriese to ground out to end the inning.
Copping (2-3) retired the Highlanders in order in the top of the sixth, but in the seventh, UC Riverisde once again put together a scoring opportunity. Nick Vilter opened the frame with a single, and Chavez beat out an infield single to short. Bolasky and Tellez lined out, and the Matadors went to their bullpen bringing in Anthony Cortez. He hit Prestridge with his second pitch to load the bases, but struck out Andriese to keep the score tied at one.
Cal State Northridge manufactured the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh as Josh Gossen-Brown opened the inning with a single up the middle, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on an Alexis Mercado single up the middle.
The Matadors tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth thanks to three Highlanders defensive miscues. Najera reached on a Hough error to start the inning, and a Tellez error on Michael Livingston's sac bunt attempt put runners on first and second. After Kyle Attl struck out looking, Zach Varela came on in relief of Doucette. He got Nate Ring to hit a grounder to short that Rubanowitz couldn't handle scoring Najera for the final run of the ballgame.
The Highlanders and Matadors finish their three-game conference series tomorrow at 1 pm PT.
Ben Doucette (1-2) had one of his best starts of the season going seven-and-a-third innings and allowing just four hits. He also didn't walk a batter and struck out seven on the day.
The Highlanders (14-12, 3-2) offense, meanwhile, banged out nine hits and drew three walks, but could only push across a single run. In the top of the first Francisco Tellez drew a one-out walk, and Clayton Prestridge's single through the right side put moved Tellez into scoring position. David Andriese then hit a liner down to first, but it was caught, and Prestridge was doubled off of first to end the threat.
UC Riverside put a runner in scoring position again in the top of the second as Cody Hough singled up the middle with one out, stole second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch, but Matadors starter Calvin Copping struck out the final two batters of the inning, to keep the score tied at zero.
In the top of the third, Tellez picked up his second base knock of the game tripling to center with two outs, but Prestridge was unable to bring him home.
CSUN (15-15, 3-2) broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the third, as Doucette plunked the first two batters, and gave up a single to Michael Najera that scored Chester Pak putting the Matadors up 1-0.
The Highlanders managed to tie the game the next half inning loading the bases with one out. Joe Chavez then beat out an infield single to tie the score.
In the top of the fifth, UCR again put a runner in scoring scoring position as Devyn Bolasky began the inning with a single and stole second, but Copping struck out the next two hitters, and got Andriese to ground out to end the inning.
Copping (2-3) retired the Highlanders in order in the top of the sixth, but in the seventh, UC Riverisde once again put together a scoring opportunity. Nick Vilter opened the frame with a single, and Chavez beat out an infield single to short. Bolasky and Tellez lined out, and the Matadors went to their bullpen bringing in Anthony Cortez. He hit Prestridge with his second pitch to load the bases, but struck out Andriese to keep the score tied at one.
Cal State Northridge manufactured the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh as Josh Gossen-Brown opened the inning with a single up the middle, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on an Alexis Mercado single up the middle.
The Matadors tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth thanks to three Highlanders defensive miscues. Najera reached on a Hough error to start the inning, and a Tellez error on Michael Livingston's sac bunt attempt put runners on first and second. After Kyle Attl struck out looking, Zach Varela came on in relief of Doucette. He got Nate Ring to hit a grounder to short that Rubanowitz couldn't handle scoring Najera for the final run of the ballgame.
The Highlanders and Matadors finish their three-game conference series tomorrow at 1 pm PT.
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
