RIVERSIDE, Calif. - In a true team win, the UC Riverside Highlanders defeated the California Baptist University Lancers 7-4 in the annual Highlander at North Campus Crosstown Showdown, featuring the two Riverside universities in a four-game series. Three of the four games will take place February 21-23, with the first game being played at Totman Stadium at California Baptist on February 21 at 6 PM.
In front of a record-breaking, sold out 1,240 Inland Empire collegiate baseball fan crowd, the UC Riverside Highlanders would take the opening night of the series from the Lancers on their home field with a gritty 7-4 win.
Dylan Orick busted open the scoreline for the Highlanders with a three-run homerun in the first inning, driving in
Taylor Juline and
Cole Pofek who reached on a base hit and fielding error respectively.
Cole Percival took the mound for the Highlanders with a three-run lead, and battled through five complete innings with two runs on five hits, five walks and five strikeouts in 25 batters faced. In the second inning the Lancers scored off an RBI-single, cutting the deficit they faced to 3-1. Three walks and a single in the bottom of the third brought in a second run for the Lancers, putting them in territory to tie with the Highlanders and make a move to take the lead.
Skyler De Los Reyes,
Taylor Juline and
Cole Pofek each singled in the top of the fifth with Pofek's shot to right field bringing De Los Reyes across home plate.
Dylan Orick followed up with a two-RBI double to drive in Juline and Pofek. A walk and a single loaded the bases for the Highlanders, and an error would result in Orick scoring the seventh and final run for UCR.
With a 7-2 lead entering the bottom of the sixth,
Riley Ohl relieved Percival from the bullpen. He would get out of the sixth and seventh innings with no runs or hits against him.
Kevin West took over in the eighth, and would let up the final two runs of the game with two walks and a single.
Andre Granillo made an appearance late in the ninth to secure the final out for the Highlanders.
The 7-4 win would extend the Highlanders streak against the Lancers in the Crosstown Showdown to seven. The series continues and UCR battles the Lancers again tomorrow, February 22 at 6 PM at the Riverside Sports Complex.
