Riverside—The UC Riverside Baseball Team used six pitchers Tuesday evening, who combined to allow just seven hits, but visiting UNLV scored two runs in the top of the eighth to break a 2-2 tie, en route to a 4-2 victory.
Devin Mckesson made his first start of the season for the Highlanders (5-8), and the Rebels touched him for three straight singles to load the bases with one out in the top of the first. The next batter, Justin Jones hit a grounder up the middle, which shortstop Colby Schultz fielded cleanly and flipped to second baseman Drake Zarate for what should have been out number two. Zarate muffed the throw, however, leaving the bases loaded and scoring Nick Rodriguez. Mckesson struck out Austin Anderson looking, but Nick Ames drew a walk to make it 2-0 Rebels.
Mckesson retired the side in order in the top of the second, and the Highlanders kept UNLV off the board in each of the next five innings as well. Jared Morton tossed two innings of no-hit baseball, while Matt Ellis gave up just one hit in his two innings, and Austin Sodders was perfect in the seventh.
Rebels starter Cody Roper allowed just three hits in his four innings on the mound, but he also issued four walks, and his defense was charged with a costly error that led to two UC Riverside runs. Roper walked the first two batters in the top of the third, and one out later, Vince Fernandez lifted a fly ball to right center. Both outfielders converged on the ball, which bounced off center fielder Keyon Allen's glove to load the bases. Two batters later, Mark Contreras singled to left scoring a pair and tying the game at two apiece.
The Highlanders nearly took the lead in the bottom of the fourth, once again taking advantage of a Rebels miscue. With two outs and nobody on, Colby Schultz hit a liner back up the middle. Rodriguez moved behind the bag from his shortstop position, and had a play on the ball, but it bounced off the end of his glove allowing Schultz to reach safely. Casey Worden singled down the left field line, and Schultz tried to score on the play, but he was thrown out at the plate, keeping the game tied.
The teams traded zeroes until the top of the eighth. Ricky Delgado (0-3) started the inning for UC Riverside, and retired Rodriguez on a fly ball to left. Payton Squier then singled to left center, stole second, and scored on a Corey Pool double to left center. Jones traded places with Pool lacing another double to left center as the Rebels doubled up the Highlanders, 4-2
Ben Wright retired all six batters he faced in the eighth and ninth to pick up his first save of the season. Larry Quaney (1-0) got credit for the win, giving up just two hits in three innings.
The Highlanders and Rebels play again on Wednesday, March 9 beginning at 3 pm PT at The Plex.
