Mata
7
Saint Mary's College SMC 11-1
9
Winner UC Riverside UCR 1-10
Saint Mary's College SMC
11-1
7
Final
9
UC Riverside UCR
1-10
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Saint Mary's College SMC 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 3 7 7 3
UC Riverside UCR 1 1 0 0 2 1 3 1 X 9 6 1

W: Ramirez, Sergio (1-0) L: CANDIOTTI (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Highlanders Knock Off Undefeated Saint Mary’s In Final Game of Series

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The University of California, Riverside (UCR) Highlanders wrapped up a four-game set hosting the Gaels of Saint Mary's College on Sunday March 6 with a single game.

After a rough Saturday doubleheader that saw the Highlanders drop two in a row in an all-day slugfest (20-11 and 12-4) against the 11-0 Gaels. UC Riverside defense wrangled a late-game comeback attempt from the Gaels and handed Saint Mary's their first loss of the season on day three of the four-game set.

Caleb Turner started on the mound for the Highlanders, throwing five strong innings letting up just four runs on four hits, three walks and three strikeouts. The Gaels have been an offensive powerhouse in their undefeated streak, hitting .410 in the series against the Highlanders up until Sunday.

The first two SMC runs came across early in the first inning. The Highlanders answered back with a Joey Nicolai sacrifice fly sending Gamez home for a run, to cut Saint Mary's lead in half, 2-1.

In short order, UC Riverside knotted things up in the second as Anthony MacFarland sent Mata home with a sacrifice bunt.

In the fourth inning, Saint Mary's took the lead, 3-2, scoring on a wild pitch.

Andrew Rivas came in clutch for the Highlanders hitting a two-run homer down the right field line in the fifth inning, to turn things around for the Highlanders as they took the lead 3-4.

The teams traded leads again in the sixth, with the Gaels capitalizing again on a wild pitch from relief pitcher Sergio Ramirez.

Sean McCleod scored on an error, lifting the Highlanders above Saint Mary's in the bottom of the inning, 5-4.

McCleod wasn't done, hitting a three RBI-double deep to left center in the seventh inning with bases load to put the Highlanders up 8-4.

In the eighth inning, Daniel Carnazzo scored off a sacrifice bunt that was mishandled by Saint Mary's defense, extending UCR's lead 9-4.

Corbin Barker closed the game in the ninth inning, eventually stifling a three-run comeback attempt from the Gaels that fell short.

The Highlanders earned their first win of the season, a 9-7 battle against the undefeated Saint Mary's Gaels.

UC Riverside returns to action at the Plex on March 10 against Portland State with a game at 5:00 PM.