Baseball Erases Eight-Run Deficit In 12-11, 10-Inning Victory Over Visiting San Diego

Riverside—Tuesday evening's game at The Plex was one for the ages as the UC Riverside Baseball Team battled back from an eight-run deficit to pick up a 12-11, 10-inning victory over visiting San Diego (Box Score).

The Toreros appeared to put the game out of reach in the top of the fifth as they put six runs on the board to take a commanding 9-2 lead.

San Diego (31-22) third baseman Kris Bryant entered the game leading the nation in home runs, runs scored and slugging percentage, and it was his two-run blast over the center field wall that got the Toreros' fifth-inning outburst underway. That made the score 5-2 San Diego, and the Toreros batted around in the inning picking up five more hits and four more runs to lead by seven when the dust settled.

The Highlanders (12-28) got a run back in the bottom of the fifth, but San Diego plated two more runs in the top of the sixth, extending its lead to eight, and sending a few non-believers to the exits.

UC Riverside's offense rewarded the faithful by finally putting a crooked number on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth. Toreros relief pitcher Sheldon Ekstrand recorded the first two outs in the sixth with ease, but Devyn Bolasky worked the count full before drawing a walk, and Clayton Prestridge doubled down the left field line to cut the lead to seven. David Andriese then turned on a 1-1 offering and deposited it over the right field wall to make it an 11-6 game.

Highlanders relief pitcher Antonio Gonzales retired the Toreros in order in the top of the seventh, and UCR inched three runs closer in the bottom of the inning. Nick Vilter and Alex Rubanowitz drew walks off of Wes Judish to start the frame, and two batters later, Bolasky beat out an infield single to short slicing the San Diego advantage to four. Prestridge then drew a walk, and Andriese singled through the right side scoring the pair.

Trevor Frank took to the mound for the Highlanders in the top of the eighth, and he too retired the side in order.

In the bottom of the eighth, Francisco Tellez homered down the right field to pull the Highlanders to within one. Frank recorded another scoreless inning in the ninth to keep UC Riverside within striking distance.

Bolasky singled up the middle to start the bottom of the ninth, and one batter later Andriese singled to left moving Bolasky to third. Phil Holinsworth then grounded to short for what could have been an inning-ending double play, but he beat the throw to first which allowed Bolasky to score the tying run.

Angelo Lingos (1-0) took over on the mound for Frank in the top of the 10th, and he kept the Toreros out of the scoring column for the fourth straight inning.

Joe Chavez led off the bottom of the tenth with a single through the left side, but he was erased on a Bolasky fielder's choice. Bolasky stole second to move into scoring position, and Prestridge's seeing-eye grounder through the right side sent Bolasky home well ahead of right fielder AJ Robinson's throw to plate, bringing the Highlanders streaming out of the dugout as they mobbed Prestridge at first.

Bolasky's run was his sixth of the day, setting a UC Riverside record in the process.

The Highlanders are on the road this weekend for their last games of the season away from the friendly confines of The Plex, as they travel to Long Beach State for a three-game Big West Conference series beginning Friday at 6 pm PT.

Baseball Erases Eight-Run Deficit In 12-11, 10-Inning Victory Over Visiting San Diego

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