RIVERSIDE, Calif. - It was the fourth and final meeting between CBU and UCR this afternoon at The Plex. The Highlanders entered on a modest two game skid looking to bounce back from the final two against Cal State Bakersfield. The Lancers took the first three meetings against UCR and claimed the fourth game today, 18-6.
The Highlanders used ten pitchers this afternoon with
Joshua Martinez taking the loss, his fifth of the year.
Marco DiGirolamo got the nod for UCR, his first start of the season, and pitched a solid inning striking out two.
In the third and the sixth innings the Lancers scored four runs each and then put the game out of reach in the ninth after scoring six runs.
UC Riverside scored in the second inning on a
Tyler Gordon bases loaded walk and added two more in the home half of the third when
Esteban Sepulveda brought two home on a single to right. Sepulveda was a bright spot for the Highlanders as he went 4-5 with two RBI. Both
Jaxon Byrd and
Jarren Sanderson collected two hits each giving the Highlanders three players with a multi-hit game. For Byrd and Sanderson it was the ninth time this year with two or more hits and it was Sepulveda's sixth time to do the same.
In the bottom of the sixth
Robert Pitts hit his sixth homer of the year pulling the Highlanders closer to the Lancers, 10-5. But that was as close as it would get.
This was the final time these two will meet as non-conference opponents as CBU is set to join The Big West next year.
The Highlanders travel to Hawai'i to take on the Rainbow Warriors. Their postseason prospects are still there as the final games of the year are all in conference. First pitch is set for Friday at 8:35pm PST.
