IRVINE, Calif. – The University of California, Riverside (UCR) baseball team traveled to nearby Irvine to play the University of California, Irvine (UCI) Anteaters in the Highlanders' penultimate Big West set in the 2021 Season.
Despite UC Riverside jumping out to an early and commanding 8-0 lead by the fourth inning, the 'Eaters were able to slowly cut down the Highlanders advantage and, with the help of a three-run eighth inning, took the game 9-8.
UCR went to work quickly in the first inning. Explosive bats saw three Highlander runs come across before UC Irvine's starting pitcher could get out of the inning.
Ely Stuart was the first to score, getting on base with a single and scoring off of a triple by
Dylan Orick.
Anthony Mata singled to third base to send Orick home, putting the Highlanders up 2-0. Mata would make it home as well, sent in by a
Jacob Shanks single through the left side.
The Highlanders continued their offensive assault in the third inning, tacking on four more runs to establish a 7-0 lead early in the ballgame. Stuart would again score first in the inning for UCR, sent home off of a double from
Nathan Webb. Mata singled up the middle to send Webb home next.
Jacob Shanks tripled to right center, sending Mata home right behind Webb.
Joey Nicolai got himself an RBI as well, singling up the middle to send Shanks home for the fourth and final run of the inning.
Anthony Mata wasn't done yet, doubling in the fourth inning to left center, sending Orick home to extend the Highlanders' formidable lead to 8-0.
UC Irvine wasn't prepared to roll over, and began chipping away at UCR's lead. Two runs scored in the fourth on a Highlander fielding error, putting the 'Eaters on the board, 8-2.
In the fifth, a two-RBI double scored two more runs for UCI, cutting the deficit down 8-4.
In the sixth inning, two more Anteater runs off of RBI singles turned a comfortable UCR lead into a two-run difference, 8-6.
In the eighth inning UC Irvine sealed the victory, sending three runs across and successfully holding UCR's offense at bay to narrowly defeat the Highlanders, 9-8.
Starting pitcher
Zach Jacobs threw another solid 5.1 innings, letting up five earned runs on seven hits and striking out five.
Shamus Lyons threw 1.2 innings, letting up two earned runs on three hits before being relieved.
Jake Lachemann threw the final frame for the Highlanders, letting up one run on one hit and striking out one.
Anthony Mata had a day at the plate, hitting 3-4 with a double, three RBIs and a stolen base. Shanks was right behind him, going 2-4 with two RBIs and a triple.
The Highlanders are back at UC Irvine to battle it out again tomorrow in a doubleheader at 12:00 PM. The series will be aired on ESPN3.
