RIVERSIDE, Calif. - In the rubber game at The Plex, the Highlanders fell 7-3 to UC Davis. A tough opening inning for the Highlanders led to a quick 4-0 lead for the Aggies and they could not recover.
Josh Martinez got the start for the Highlanders and lasted only two thirds of an inning before being lifted for Josh Torres. Martinez started strong and retired the first two batters, but three straight walks followed by at hit batsman led to the first run of the game. Back-to-back singles by the Aggies led to three more runs scoring and the 4-0 lead. Torres came in and was able to strand an Aggie in scoring position.
Another bases loaded walk for UC Davis in the top of the second and they had a 5-0 lead.
The Highlanders plated two runs in the bottom of the third making it 5-2. It started with
Robert Pitts getting hit and advancing to third on a failed pick off attempt at first. Then
Miles Scott singled to center and UCR got its first run. After
David Gibbs sacrificed Scott to third,
Lucas Bonham drove him on a ground out to second.
In the sixth the Aggies pushed one across giving them a 6-2 lead. UCR answered in the bottom of the inning on a
Jaxon Byrd RBI single to right, scoring
Tyler Gordon. For the Highlanders that was all they would get.
UC Davis added one more in the seventh and took a 7-3 lead.
Next up for UC Riverside is UNLV on Tuesday in Las Vegas.
