Baseball
Carlos Puma
7
UC Riverside UCR 7-14
11
Winner UNLV UNLV 15-11
UC Riverside UCR
7-14
7
Final
11
UNLV UNLV
15-11
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
UC Riverside UCR 2 0 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 7 12 1
UNLV UNLV 0 0 4 0 0 7 0 0 X 11 12 1

W: MILLER, C. (2-0) L: Petrovick, Hayden (1-1) S: COFER, J. (8)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Even With Strong Offensive Performance, Baseball Falls 11-7 to UNLV

LAS VEGAS—While the UC Riverside bats came alive on Tuesday vs. UNLV, the pitching staff couldn't hold a lead and the Highlanders took an 11-7 loss.

It was all UCR (7-14) to begin the game. The team came out of the gate quickly, scoring two runs in the first inning when Matt Hardy hit a two-run triple with two outs.

He came through again in the clutch with runners in scoring position and two outs in the third inning. On the first pitch against Rebels starter Troy Balko, Hardy belted a single through the right side to score two more runs and give the Highlanders a 4-0 lead in the third inning.

However, in the bottom half of the inning, with reliever Devin Mckesson on the hill, he allowed four runs (one earned) all with two outs. After three straight singles, Max Smith reached on an error by shortstop Skyler De Los Reyes to allow the inning to continue. Grant Robbins then singled home two runs to tie the game at 4-4.

Starter Jeremiah Priddy, who struggled in his last start vs. Tulane, tossed two solid innings, before head coach Troy Percival elected to go to the bullpen. Mckesson has been the most consistent reliever so far this season. He came in with a 1.00 ERA in seven appearances with a total of nine innings pitched.

While that costly error could have made the Highlanders give in, the team rebounded over the next two innings, scoring three more runs to take a 7-4 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning. That's when the Rebels put up a crooked number, striking for seven runs.

Hayden Petrovick in 1/3 of an inning allowed four runs, partly because of two costly walks after the Rebels began with two straight singles. Once Petrovick gave way to Kevin West, things unfortunately didn't get much better. He hit two batters and allowed a double before being taken out.

However, after that, the Highlanders bullpen got shutout innings from Abbott Haffar and Andre Granillo. It was a welcome sight for Percival.

The Highlanders made one last attempt at a comeback in the ninth. Alec Arnone hit a single to center field with one out and Dean Miller reached on an error with two outs, but Hardy couldn't find that same success he had at the beginning of the game and grounded out to third base to end the game.

It may not have been the outcome the team hoped for, but it can take solace in the fact that many of the student-athletes are beginning to find their stroke. Four had at least two hits, including Hardy, who now has six extra base hits on the season and leads the team with 15 RBIs.

The team will need to have a short memory with the quick two-game series coming to a close on Wednesday at 2:05 p.m. Trevor Bateson makes the start for the Highlanders.