Riverside—After two weeks of being on the road, the UC Riverside Baseball Team finally gets the taste of some home cooking with a four-game series against Holy Cross at The Plex beginning Saturday, March 4.
The Highlanders are 5-3 on the year following a two-game midweek split at UNLV. The last time UC Riverside had a better eight-game start to a season was in 2010, when the Highlanders won six of their first eight contests.
Outfielder Mark Contreras continues to pace the team's offense, leading the Highlanders in all three slash line categories (.433/.528/.667). Freshman Connor Cannon has 10 of UC Riverside's 42 RBIs.
As a team, UCR is hitting .221, with a .309 on base percentage and a .321 slugging percentage. They have just two stolen bases in four attempts.
Angel Landazuri (0-1, 3.86) makes his second start of the season for the Highlanders on Saturday. He has scattered 12 hits in 9.1 innings this year, striking out five, while walking three.
Hazahel Quijada makes his second start of the year as well, taking his turn on the hill on Sunday. He has given up eight hits in 7.1 innings, and like Landazuri, has five Ks and three bases on balls.
Alex Fagalde (1-0, 0.00) has been lights out in his long relief role so far in 2017. He gets his first start of the season on Monday. The senior has 12 strikeouts, and has allowed just six hits in 11.2 innings, while holding opponents to a .154 batting average.
As a team, the Highlanders are allowing less than a hit per inning (77 in 79.1) with 69 strikeouts, and an ERA of 3.97.
Holy Cross lost its first four decision of the 2017 season dropping a single game to Central Connecticut, and a three-game series against Auburn.
Outfielder Austin Masel is hitting .400 on the year, but no other Crusaders regular is hitting better than .286. They have a team slash line of .185/.237/.238, and have struck out 46 times in 130 at bats. The offense has also worked just six free passes from opposing pitchers.
Right-hander Phil Reese (0-1, 6.00) makes his second start of the season Saturday for Holy Cross. He has logged six innings on the season and struck out five batters without issuing a walk.
Righty Brendan King (0-1, 5.79) takes the ball Sunday for the Crusaders. He has two starts on the season, but has lasted just 4.2 innings, allowing three hits, and walking eight.
A third right-hander, Justin Finan (0-1, 4.79) gets the starting nod on Monday evening. He has allowed eight hits in 5.2 innings of work to date.
Aa a team, Holy Cross has a 5.45 ERA, and has issued 22 walks while striking out 18 in 33.0 innings. Opponents are hitting .270 against the Crusaders.
Sunday starters for both teams are TBD.
This is the first-ever meeting between the Highlanders and Crusaders
