April 8, 2014
Aztecs 4 – Highlanders 3
With several opportunities to take control of the game, the UCR baseball team (14-14) fell short Tuesday afternoon against San Diego State (25-8), 4-3.
Stealing bases in the first inning, Aztecs Greg Allen and Tim Zier were able to put the game’s first two runs on the board. The Highlanders responded in the second inning by adding their first run of the ball game, 2-1.
In the top of the fourth, Highlander Joe Chavez doubled down left field to score Matt Ellis, knotting the game at two apiece. San Diego State would recover the lead in the bottom of the fourth as Seby Zavala homered to left field. The Aztecs weren’t done as Evan Potter added another run in the bottom of the fifth to extend the lead to two, 4-2.
With a final attempt to extend the contest, the Highlanders ran out of gas in the top of the ninth. Aztecs pitcher Michael Cederoth issued back-to-back walks, giving Riverside an opportunity to score. Cutting the lead to one, Thomas Walker singled to left to score Nick Vilter. Cederoth struck out Highlanders Drake Zarate and Matthew Ellis consecutively to end the game with two runners left on base.
April 11, 2014
Ducks 7 – Highlanders 2
Opening their three-game nonconference series against Oregon (25-10), the UC Riverside baseball team (14-15) couldn’t decipher pitcher Tommy Thorpe as they fell 7-2 to the nationally ranked Ducks.
At the bottom of the third inning, the Ducks took the lead by putting four runs on the board. Tyler Baumgartner smacked the ball to double to left-center, scoring all three runners, 3-0. Kyle Garlick scored Baumgartner to add the fourth run of the inning.
With Thorpe continuing to dominate on the mound, Highlander Matthew Ellis grounded out to second base to score David Andriese and finally get UCR on the board in the fifth inning. The Ducks responded in the sixth inning as Garlick homered to left field, 5-1.
Switching pitchers on several occasions, the Highlanders looked to put an end to Oregon’s lead. Unfortunately, the Ducks tallied two more runs in the seventh and eighth innings to increase the advantage to six.
With two outs in the ninth inning, Andriese homered to right field, cutting the margin to 7-2. Unable to keep the game going, the inning came to a close with the Ducks taking the first game of the series.
With seven strong innings, Thorpe struck out seven players and allowed only two hits and one walk.
April 12, 2014
Ducks 7 – Highlanders 4
Gearing up for game two of their series against Oregon (26-10), the Highlanders (14-16) fell short as they lost their fourth game in a row, 7-4.
Taking an early lead in the first inning, Oregon’s Tyler Baumgartner tripled to center field to score A.J. Balta. Mitchell Tolman took advantage of Baumgartner’s play as he singled to left field, adding another run, 2-0.
In the second inning, Highlander Matthew Ellis ripped a double to left field to cut the lead in half. Oregon responded with Aaron Payne taking advantage of Riverside’s error to double to right field, 4-1. Tolman singled to score against Riverside’s pitcher Zach Varela, 5-1.
With the bases loaded in the fifth inning, UCR’s Joe Chavez sent Ellis home, 5-2.
In the seventh inning, Highlander Cody Hough singled to center field to score Drake Zarate, 5-3. Cutting the Ducks’ lead to one, Devyn Bolasky singled in the same frame.
Responding in their half, the Ducks’ Garlick ripped a double to left-center, 6-4. At the bottom of the eighth, Oregon tallied another run, increasing their chances of winning, 7-4. Jake Reed closed up the game, taking the victory for Oregon.
Oregon’s pitcher Jeff Gold tallied five strikeouts and allowed nine hits during his 6.1 innings played.
