RIVERSIDE, Calif.— The UC Riverside Baseball Team (4-7) is set to host a two-game series with Valparaiso (4-6) this Tuesday and Wednesday, Mar. 6-7 at Riverside Sports Complex. Both games will begin at 6:00 p.m.
Highlanders vs. Crusaders
Tuesday, Mar. 6 - 6:00 PM | RHP Max Compton
Wednesday, Mar. 7 - 6:00 PM | RHP Abbott Haffar
Live Stats | Video
|
|
UC Riverside |
Valparaiso |
| Stats |
4-7 |
4-6 |
|
Schedule |
Schedule |
|
Roster |
Roster |
| Streak |
L2 |
W1 |
| Leaders |
| ERA |
Jared Morton
0.00 ERA |
Chet Joslyn
2.08 ERA |
| B/avg |
Colby Schultz
.342 |
Blake Billinger
.444 |
| RBI |
Connor Cannon
10 RBI |
Jayden Eggimann
14 RBI |
| History |
| Record vs. |
|
0-0 |
| Streak |
|
N/A |
USF RECAP
In its first three-game home series of the season, UC Riverside defeated USF 3-2 in the series opener on Saturday, with all three runs coming from senior shortstop Colby Schultz. The Highlanders would go on to fall in both games of a Sunday doubleheader, 2-1 and 4-1.
TAKING ON THE CRUSADERS
UC Riverside and Valparaiso will meet for the first time ever this week. The Crusaders are out to a 4-6 start this season, going 0-2 against Big West competition in a pair of games against CSUN this past weekend.
THE CANNON STRIKES
Sophomore Connor Cannon got out to a fast start this season, currently tied for second in the Big West in home runs (3) and leading the Highlanders in RBI (10). Half of those RBI came in the Highlanders' 8-1 season-opening win over WSU, when Cannon tallied a career-high five, most coming on his first ever grand slam in the bottom of the seventh.
NO RUN ZONE
Right-handed pitcher Jared Morton has a 1-0 record and a perfect 0.00 ERA in 9.1 innings pitched this year. The senior has appeared in four games – including three of UC Riverside's four wins – and is one of two Highlanders with a save.
COOL COLBY
2017 All-Big West Second Team selection Colby Schultz is off to a fine start in his senior season, leading the Highlanders in batting average (.342) and runs (9), while ranking second in hits (13) and slugging percentage (.474). Schultz has a hit in eight out of 11 games and already has five multi-hit outings. Defensively, the shortstop is leads the way in assists (31) and is tied with senior second baseman Cody Sporrer for the team-lead in double plays (8).
THE DEAN
Junior outfielder Dean Miller also had a strong opening weekend against Washington State and Nebraska, leading the team in batting average (.533), hits (8) and on base percentage (.588) in the Highlanders' first four games of the season. Through two weeks of play, he ranks first on the team in hits (14) and second in batting average (.341) and RBI (7).
PERCIVAL DAZZLES IN DEBUT
Right-handed pitcher Cole 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. The freshman struck out eight batters, giving up just one hit, one run, and a meager .056 opposing batting average to a team that had defeated UCR 8-3 less than 24 hours prior.
HOME SWEET HOME
UC Riverside has completed the first four games of its current ten-game home stand, which will span from Feb. 27 - Mar. 14. Following the Valpo series, the Highlanders will have one day off before hosting Utah this Friday-Sunday, Mar. 9-11.
