RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The Highlanders welcomed the Utah Utes to The Plex for a two-game set. The Utes are in the middle of a 16-game California road trip, before heading to Kansas for their Big XII opener at K-State. Last night, UCR topped CBU 3-0 and looked to
Kurt Marton to keep the momentum going on the mound.
The solid pitching continued for UCR as Marton started with four scoreless innings. Including last night and the LMU game that was 16 scoreless innings. Neither team threatened early on, as both pitchers were in full control.
"Marton was great he attacked the zone and made pitches," said coach
Justin Johnson after the win.
The Highlanders made some noise in the bottom of the fourth as
Griffin Harrison led things off with a double. With one out
Andrew Rivas drew a walk and that brought up
Manoah Chapman. The second baseman got one he could drive and lined a double to left field driving in two runs.
Tyler Gordon came up and got UCR's third double of the inning, scoring Chapman and giving UCR a 3-0 lead.
Michael Weber had been struggling this young year and got his first hit and first RBI giving the Highlanders a 4-0 lead and knocking out Utah starter Ian Culver.
The Highlanders threatened again in the bottom of the fifth with two on and one out
Tyler Gordon looked to add on to the lead. He drove in Rivas on a RBI ground out pushing the lead to 5-0.
Marton went out to start the sixth and got two quick outs. But then Utah's offense found a bit of life. After a double by Tyler Quinn, Cameron Gurney came up to the plate. He got an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error by Gordon. Quinn scored making it 5-1 Utah. They pushed a second run across on a double to left by Long and Utah got closer at 5-2.
Jaxon Byrd came in and got the Highlanders out of the inning with minimal damage.
In the bottom of the sixth
Ethan Bergan got on via a walk and Pitts doubled on a bunt.
Landon Nunes had a chance to get the two runs back that Utah scored in the top half of the frame. Nunes drew the walk and loaded the bases for Harrison. Bergan scored on a sac fly by Harrison and UCR took a 6-2 lead.
Chapman came up and looked to extend the lead and he did just that. After a single to left, two runs scored and UCR led 8-2. For Chapman that was his third RBI of the game. After a balk by another run came across making it 9-2.
In the top of the eighth the Utes pushed another run across making it 9-3.
Both teams would get add a couple more runs and UCR took game one 10-5.
"Guys played a great game, turned two double plays on defense and had big offensive games from Chapman with 4 RBI and Gordon with 3 RBI," Johnson added.
With the win the Highlanders are now 7-4. They play two tomorrow, first game is at 11 a.m., against Utah and then at 5 p.m., against CBU.
