FULLERTON, Calif. - After Saturday's game was postponed due to weather, the Highlanders faced the Cal State Fullerton Titans in a Sunday doubleheader at Goodwin Field to wrap up their three-game Big West series. The Highlanders fell to the Titans in game one as CSUF secured the walk-off win in the ninth inning, 4-3. In game two, a stifling UCR defense secured a 9-6 win, holding their hosts to six scoreless innings in the back end of the game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Bubba Rocha put the Highlanders on the board first in the top of the seventh of game one, after a scoreless six frames from both sides. Rocha singled up the right side, scoring Zachary Chamizo.
- Right after Rocha, Jayden Lopez hit a two-RBI double to score Andrew Rivas and Cole Koniarsky, bringing the Highlanders lead to 3-0.Â
- Cal State Fullerton threatened with two runs in the bottom of the eighth and successfully walked off the Highlanders with a two-run bottom of the ninth, 4-3.
- Chamizo got things started early in the first inning for UCR in game two, with an RBI ground out to send Anthony Mata home.
- The Titans answered back in the bottom of the frame with a run scored off of a sacrifice fly.
- Tyler Weaver with a two-RBI single and Mata with an RBI double extended the Highlanders lead to 4-1 in the second.
- A three-run home run from the Titans equalized the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the second inning, followed by a two-run homer in the third, to put CSUF in the lead 6-4.
- Poss reached on a fielders choice in the fourth inning, allowing Tyler Weaver to score, bringing the Highlanders within one run of the Titans.
- An RBI single from Andrew Rivas tied the game up, and Tyler Weaver scored on a wild pitch to give the Highlanders a one-run advantage, 7-6.
- A pair of RBI singles from Koniarsky and Rocha in the sixth inning offered the Highlanders some insurance, extending their lead to 9-6.
- UC Riverside defense stifled the Titans' bats and held them scoreless for the last six frames of the game to secure the win.
HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS
- Rocha went a perfect four for four in game one with one RBI and a double.
- Tyler Gebb had a tremendous outing in game two earning his third save of the season. Gebb threw four shutout innings, scattering just three hits and a career-high six strikeouts.
- The Highlanders' win in game two snapped a 14-game losing streak and earned UC Riverside their first Big West conference win this season.
UP NEXT
- The Highlanders remain on the road and continue Big West play heading to Long Beach for a three game set next weekend. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 PM on April 19 at Blair Field.