Riverside, Calif.— The UC Riverside Baseball Team (8-8) closes out its ten-game home stand this Wednesday when it hosts Grand Canyon (6-8). The game is set to begin at 6:00 p.m. at Riverside Sports Complex.
| Highlanders vs. Lopes
|
|
UC Riverside |
Grand Canyon |
| Stats |
8-8 |
6-8 |
|
Schedule |
Schedule |
|
Roster |
Roster |
| Streak |
L1 |
W3 |
| Leaders |
| ERA |
Jared Morton
0.00 ERA |
Jake Wong
2.11 ERA |
| B/avg |
Colby Schultz
.342 |
Marc Mumper
.333 |
| RBI |
Connor Cannon
10 RBI |
Pikai Winchester
Quin Cotton
9 RBI |
| History |
| Record vs. |
|
19-16 |
| Streak |
|
W1 |
UTAH SERIES RECAP
The Highlanders won their second straight home series, defeating Utah 2-1 on Friday and 3-2 on Sunday. The Utes took the final game of the series, 4-7.
OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION
UC Riverside hit .472 as a team against Valparaiso on Mar. 7, exploding for season-highs of 14 runs and 17 hits. It was the most hits for the Highlanders since recording 18 against Long Beach State on Apr. 23, 2016.
Seven different Highlanders finished with multiple runs or RBI. Senior shortstop Colby Schultz finished 3-of-5 for 2 RBI, and had his second three-run game in his last five outings. Sophomore Connor Cannon finished with a team-high 3 RBI.
COOL COLBY
2017 All-Big West Second Team selection Colby Schultz is off to a fine start in his senior season, tied for fifth in the Big West in hits (21), seventh in runs (13) and sitting eighth in batting average (.356). The senior has multiple hits in seven of his 16 outings and is the only Highlander to have three runs in a game, doing it twice. Schultz also leads the Highlanders in assists (44) and is tied for the team-lead with senior second baseman Cody Sporrer in double plays (9).
HOLDING DOWN THE MOUND
Right-handed pitcher Cole Percival (2-1) has gotten out to a fantastic start to his freshman campaign. He has pitched more innings (25-1) than any other Highlander, leading the way in wins (2) and opposing batting average (.180) and sitting second on the team in strikeouts (21). His team-leading 2.49 ERA also ranks fourth in the Big West.
Percival impressed many in his first career start on the mound, leading the Highlanders to an 8-1 victory over Nebraska in just under six innings pitched. He struck out eight batters, giving up just one hit, one run, and a meager .056 opposing batting average.
THE DEAN
Outfielder Dean Miller has been a key player for the Highlanders in his first year with the team, tying Colby Schultz for the team-lead in hits (21) and total bases (27), and ranking second on the team in RBI (12), batting average (.368) and slugging percentage (.474). Miller also leads the team with eight walks and a .433 on base percentage.
GUDINO HAVING CAREER YEAR
Redshirt senior catcher Tony Gudino leads UC Riverside with career-highs in batting average (.370) and slugging percentage (.481), marks which rank 5th and 14th in the Big West, respectively. Gudino led the Highlanders with three hits on four at bats in their series closer against Utah. He joins Dean Miller and Colby Schultz as the only players this season with three hits in a game.
NO RUN ZONE
Right-handed pitcher Jared Morton has a 1-0 record and a perfect 0.00 ERA in 12.2 innings pitched this year. The senior has appeared in eight games – including six of UC Riverside's eight wins – and is tied for second in the conference with four saves.
THE CANNON STRIKES
Connor Cannon got out to a fast start this season, currently leading his team and tying for third in the Big West in home runs (3) and eighth in RBI (13). Cannon owns two of UCR's three 3-RBI performances this season. That includes the Highlanders' 8-1 season-opening win over WSU, when the sophomore tallied a career-high five RBI, most coming on his first ever grand slam in the bottom of the seventh.
STREAKERS
The Highlanders won four straight games from Mar. 6 - Mar. 11 for their longest win streak so far this season. It was UCR's first four-game win streak since opening the 2017 season with a 4-0 record.
BACK ON THE ROAD
UC Riverside returns to the road this weekend following the conclusion of its ten game home stand on Wednesday. The Highlanders have gone 3-4 away from home this season, and will look to improve that mark with a four-game series against Nevada this Friday-Sunday, Mar. 16-18.
