RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Highlanders welcomed Wagner College to the Riverside Sports Complex for a three game series, the first series between these two schools. Both teams entered the series win less, with UCR dropping four to Utah Tech and Wagner dropping three to Virginia.
Getting the start for the Highlanders was lefty
Matthew O'Brien. He took the loss on opening day, going six innings and striking out four. He was opposed by Colin Trizuto who entered the game with a 9.82 ERA.
The Seahawks got things started in the first as Lukas Torres doubled down the left field line. He scored on an RBI ground out by Diego Tavarez. They then pushed another across in the top of the second on a sacrifice fly by Dylan Simeone.
The Highlanders got one back in the home half of the second when
Jaxon Byrd scored on an RBI ground out by
David Gibbs. Byrd, led the inning off with a double down the right field line.
UC Riverside tied it in the bottom of the third when
Lucas Bonham singled to left scoring
Robert Pitts.
However, a lead off homer by Jospeh Mennella and the Seahawks took a 3-2 lead. O'Brien settled down a bit, but even the outs were hit hard. In the top of the sixth the Seahawks extended their lead on a Simeone sacrifice fly driving in Matt Sutera.
In the bottom of the sixth Wagner went to the pen and Trizuto's days was over. The righty went five innings throwing 81 pitches and surrendering two runs.
Adrian Blanchet entered the game in the top of the seventh for O'Brien. The UCR lefty went six innings, throwing 90 pitches and giving up four runs. The fifth Wagner run came across on a RBI single to center by Mennella.
UC Riverside pushed its third run across on a two out single by
Jarren Sanderson. That scored Harrison. Byrd came up looking to keep the inning alive for UCR and walked. The go-ahead run came up to the plate in Bonham, but he struck out looking to end the threat.
Ryan Higgins came in the top of the eighth and relieved Blanchet. He made quick work of the Seahawks striking out the side. Still UCR trailed by two.
The big inning for the Highlanders came in the home half of the eighth when they scored five runs to take the lead. It started when
Andrew Rivas was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Sanderson collected an RBI on an infield hit. A throwing error by Wagner allowed another run to cross and it was 6-5 UCR.
Jaxon Byrd followed with a two-RBI triple to right to make it 8-5.
Higgins then had a quick ninth and the Highlanders got win number one. For Higgins it was his first win as a Highlander.
Game two is tomorrow afternoon with a noon start.
