RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Highlanders and the Seahawks met for the series finale at The Plex in an afternoon tilt. UC Riverside won the first two of the series and looked for their first sweep of an opponent since 2015 when they beat Portland in a four game set in Riverside.
Jaxon Byrd got the nod for the Highlanders and pitched two innings of shutout ball. He was lifted in the third for
Brady Routon.
In the bottom of the third the Highlanders got on the board.
Esteban Sepulveda led the inning off getting hit by a pitch and promptly stole second. When the lineup turned over
Robert Pitts lined a single to center to drive in Sepulveda.
Then in the bottom of the fourth
Andrew Rivas got on board with a two out hit to right. After a balk ,
Manoah Chapman drove Rivas in putting the Highlanders up 2-0. The big blow in the inning came when Sepulveda launched his first homer as a Highlander over the left field wall giving UCR a 4-0 lead.
Wagner pushed one across in the top of the fifth and in the sixth plated another.
Adrian Blanchet entered the game trying to get the final two outs and minimize the damage. He did that and UCR led, 4-2.
Nothing doing for either team and the Highlanders took their 4-2 lead to the ninth.
Ryan Higgins toed the rubber for his second inning of work and looking for his first save on the year. But it wouldn't be easy. With one out the Seahawks put two on in scoring position.
A single up the middle by Rocco Pierorazio and Wagner trailed by one. Josiah Ross came through with a one out single to tie the game at four. Then an error by
Manoah Chapman and the Seahawks took a 5-4 lead. After a bases loaded walk and Wagner took a 6-4 lead. Higgins got out of it on a ground out and the Highlanders needed two in the ninth to play extra baseball.
The Highlanders went quietly in the ninth.
Next up for the Highlanders is tomorrow afternoon BYU. Game time is 1PM.
