Tuesday, April 9
3:00 PM
UC Riverside
3
at
10
Loyola Marymount
Baseball Drops Fourth Straight With 10-3 Loss At Loyola Marymount
4/9/2013 2:34:00 PM | Baseball
Los Angeles, CA—The UC Riverside Baseball Team was looking to snap a three-game losing streak Tuesday at Loyola Marymount, but the Lions jumped on the Highlanders early and cruised to a 10-3 victory (Box Score).
Donovan Gonzales made his first start for the Highlanders since he received a no decision at USC on May 23, 2012 (box score/recap). With injury and illness hitting the team, Head Coach Dough Smith hoped that Gonzales could get UC Riverside through the fifth inning. Instead, Gonzales was only able to take the Highlanders into the bottom of the second, and suffered from a bought of wildness.
In the first inning, the senior right-hander walked four batters and gave up a double as the Lions built an early 2-0 lead.
Gonzales appeared to settle down in the second getting the first two outs of the inning after giving up an infield single to second to start the inning. But Colton Plaia singled to left scoring Kevin Garcia from second, and Tommy Cheek followed with a triple off the wall in left center scoring Plaia. A wild pitch brought Cheek home, and a walk to Tanner Donnels ended Gonzales's day.
Kevin Sprague came on in relief, and after issuing a walk to David Edwards, got a ground ball off the bat of Zak Fujimoto to end the inning.
It was also a "staff day" for Loyola Marymount as Matt Florer got the start working the first two innings, allowing just two harmless singles.
Bret Dahlson came out of the bullpen to pitch the top of the third, and after getting Cody Hough to ground out to second, the Highlanders put together their first threat of the game. Joe Chavez ripped the first offering he saw from Dahlson through the left side, and Devyn Bolasky sent an 0-1 pitch through the right side that moved Chavez to third.
Clayton Prestridge popped out to short for the second out of the inning, but David Andriese drove in Chavez for his 20th RBI of the season with a single to center making it 5-1 Lions.
Loyola Marymount kept up the pressure in the bottom of the third, however putting together a two-out rally. Sprague retired two of the first three batters he faced sandwiched around a single to left by Garcia, but the next four batters all reached base via base hits putting three more runs on the board.
Zach Varela came on in relief of Sprague and worked out of a bases loaded jam by striking out Fujimoto, and he held the Lions in check in the bottom of the fourth.
Brandon Horth took to the hill for LMU in the top of the fifth, and gave up a hit in each of the fifth and sixth innings. But both times, the Lions defense turned double plays to stop any UCR rally.
Loyola Marymount tacked on two more runs in the seventh to go up 10-1, but the Highlanders got those runs back with a two-spot in the ninth. With one out, Phil Holinsworth drew a walk, and advanced to second after Kevin Davidson singled down the left field line.
Alex Rubanowitz then laced a single the opposite direction to score Holinsworth, and Nick Vilter was walked to load the bases. Hough flied out to right field to earn the RBI and put UCR on the board, 10-3.
The Lions needed just one more out to end the Highlanders rally, and got it as a fly out from Chavez ended the game.
Davidson went 3-for-4 from the plate to lead UC Riverside offensively.
The Highlanders now return home this weekend for a three-game Big West Conference series vs. Pacific. First pitch Friday is slated for 6 pm PT.
Donovan Gonzales made his first start for the Highlanders since he received a no decision at USC on May 23, 2012 (box score/recap). With injury and illness hitting the team, Head Coach Dough Smith hoped that Gonzales could get UC Riverside through the fifth inning. Instead, Gonzales was only able to take the Highlanders into the bottom of the second, and suffered from a bought of wildness.
In the first inning, the senior right-hander walked four batters and gave up a double as the Lions built an early 2-0 lead.
Gonzales appeared to settle down in the second getting the first two outs of the inning after giving up an infield single to second to start the inning. But Colton Plaia singled to left scoring Kevin Garcia from second, and Tommy Cheek followed with a triple off the wall in left center scoring Plaia. A wild pitch brought Cheek home, and a walk to Tanner Donnels ended Gonzales's day.
Kevin Sprague came on in relief, and after issuing a walk to David Edwards, got a ground ball off the bat of Zak Fujimoto to end the inning.
It was also a "staff day" for Loyola Marymount as Matt Florer got the start working the first two innings, allowing just two harmless singles.
Bret Dahlson came out of the bullpen to pitch the top of the third, and after getting Cody Hough to ground out to second, the Highlanders put together their first threat of the game. Joe Chavez ripped the first offering he saw from Dahlson through the left side, and Devyn Bolasky sent an 0-1 pitch through the right side that moved Chavez to third.
Clayton Prestridge popped out to short for the second out of the inning, but David Andriese drove in Chavez for his 20th RBI of the season with a single to center making it 5-1 Lions.
Loyola Marymount kept up the pressure in the bottom of the third, however putting together a two-out rally. Sprague retired two of the first three batters he faced sandwiched around a single to left by Garcia, but the next four batters all reached base via base hits putting three more runs on the board.
Zach Varela came on in relief of Sprague and worked out of a bases loaded jam by striking out Fujimoto, and he held the Lions in check in the bottom of the fourth.
Brandon Horth took to the hill for LMU in the top of the fifth, and gave up a hit in each of the fifth and sixth innings. But both times, the Lions defense turned double plays to stop any UCR rally.
Loyola Marymount tacked on two more runs in the seventh to go up 10-1, but the Highlanders got those runs back with a two-spot in the ninth. With one out, Phil Holinsworth drew a walk, and advanced to second after Kevin Davidson singled down the left field line.
Alex Rubanowitz then laced a single the opposite direction to score Holinsworth, and Nick Vilter was walked to load the bases. Hough flied out to right field to earn the RBI and put UCR on the board, 10-3.
The Lions needed just one more out to end the Highlanders rally, and got it as a fly out from Chavez ended the game.
Davidson went 3-for-4 from the plate to lead UC Riverside offensively.
The Highlanders now return home this weekend for a three-game Big West Conference series vs. Pacific. First pitch Friday is slated for 6 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
