Riverside—The UC Riverside Baseball Team hosts Fresno State at The Plex on Wednesday, May 3 at 3 pm PT, before traveling to Utah for a three-game series which runs from Thursday, May 4 through Saturday, May 6.
The Highlanders (16-23, 4-11) won three of four games last week, including two of three from UC Santa Barbara. The team's offense averaged 7.25 runs per game during that stretch, and plated at least five runs in each game. In the 16 games prior, UC Riverside scored five or more runs on just two occasions, as the team's batting average fell from .266 to .249. Last week's efforts raised the team average to .254.
Mark Contreras lifted his batting average back to .400 last week. He brings a 17-game hitting streak into the Fresno State game, and a slash line of .400/.463/.591 on the year. All of those figures would rank second in the Big West, but Contreras hasn't played in enough games this season to qualify for the league leader board, having missed most of the month of March with a wrist injury. Last Tuesday at San Diego State, the senior center fielder tied an NCAA record by hitting three triples in a game.
Junior shortstop Colby Schultz is the other UC Riverside regular who is hitting better than .300 on the season with a slash line of .311/.389/.406. Freshman designated hitter Connor Cannon leads the team with eight home runs and 26 RBIs. His eight dingers are two shy of tying the program record for home runs by a freshman.
The Highlanders rotation for the week is still in flux, but reliever Angel Landazuri may have earned himself some additional opportunities. The senior took the mound on three occasions last week, picking up two wins in a relief, while tossing 5.1 innings of two-hit baseball. He didn't allow a single run, while striking out seven and walking none.
UC Riverside's overall team ERA is 5.46, including 5.98 in conference. Big West opponents are hitting .300 collectively against the Highlanders.
Fresno State is 22-21 on the year after taking two of three from San Jose State over the weekend. That record includes three decisions against the Highlanders, as UC Riverside went 2-1 against the Bulldogs from February 24-26.
Fresno Stats is hitting .302/.376/.447 as a team this year, led by infielder Aaron Arruda. The junior is hitting .385/.455/.655 with 23 extra base hits including 11 home runs. He also tops the team with 50 RBIs. Four other Bulldogs regulars are hitting .304 or better.
FSU hasn't announced its starter yet for Wednesday, but the team has a collective ERA of 5.66. Nine different pitchers have starts on the year for the Bulldogs. Walks have been an issue for Fresno State, as the team's pitching staff has issued 229 free passes on the year, compared to 162 for their opposition.
The Highlanders are 3-2 all-time against the Bulldogs (
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