NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – The Highlanders (8-16, 6-11 Big West) got a 6-5, extra-inning, conference road win Friday after an 11th-inning sacrifice fly by Jacob Shanks on Matador Field. Starting pitcher Zach Jacobs went seven strong innings, third baseman Nathan Webb had a three-run home run and Ethan Payne scored the game-winning run as UC Riverside ended a five-game losing streak against the Matadors.
Jacobs, who did not earn a decision, cruised into bottom the fifth, throwing everything he had into the inning including his glove at the opposition, which failed to stop Mason Le's ground ball single with two outs. The next batter, DH Ryan Ball, doubled down the left field line, scoring Le for the first run of the day. Pofek then misplayed the ball of Kai Moody's bat, allowing Ball to score for a 2-0 CSUN lead.
Webb (2-for-4) got on base with a walk and stole second with one out in the sixth, Anthony Mata drew a walk and Joey Nicolai was hit by pitch to bring up Ethan Payne, whose two-RBI single tied the game in the sixth. Jacobs pitch count went into the 80s as he continued into the bottom of the sixth. After striking out Powell for the second out, Jacobs saw his first pitch to Clarke go yard on Denzel Clarke's solo home run, but he finished the inning with his fifth strikeout and UCR down, 3-2.
Stuart (2-for-5) started the seventh with a standup double and moved to third on a wild pitch with Dylan Orick at the plate, who earned a walk on his 3-2 check swing, bringing a pitching change for the Matadors. The second pitch on a 1-0 count become Webb's first home run of the year, a three-run job to give UCR a 5-3 lead.
Eric Marrujo started the bottom of the eighth after strong seven-inning start from Jacobs, and allowed Ruiz on as the leadoff hitter but he was erased on a double play. Clarke started the top of the ninth with double, bringing the trying run to the plate with nobody out in pinch hitter Bullard. He tripled, standing 90 feet away from tying the game. He is held on for the first out on a grounder to Webb, looking him back before throwing to first, but a sac fly to Pofek tied the game, 5-5
Payne led off the top of the 11th with a single and stood on third with one out after Travis Bohall's bunt became a two-base hit on a throwing error. Stuart was intentionally walked to load the bases for Shanks, who brought home Payne on his flyout to center for a 6-5 lead Jake Lacheman pitched the bottom of the 11th, walking Ball with two outs, giving up a single to Moody and a wild pitch ball four almost that almost gave up the lead, loading bases before a ground ball to Stuart ended the game. Shamus Lyons got the win and Lachemann got the save.
The second game of this series, game one of Saturday's double header, begins at 11 a.m. Saturday on Matador Field.
