Photo by Vincent Ta
Photo by Vincent Ta

March 5, 2013
Highlanders 6 – Lions 4

The Highlander baseball team worked well together to pull out a late 6-4 victory over the Loyola Marymount Lions. Riverside chalked up 10 hits and walked seven times.

Highlander pitcher Mitch Patito started on the mound and went three innings. Patito allowed 2 runs on five hits. Lions Patrick McGrath started for Loyola Marymount and went 4.2 innings. McGrath allowed 4 runs on six hits and walked two batters.

UCR’s Donovan Gonzales relieved Patito and went 2.1 innings, allowed 2 runs on one hit and struck out one batter. The winning pitcher was Highlander senior Mark Garcia. He went 2.2 innings and struck out two batters. Trevor Frank came in the ninth inning and was able to record his second save of the season for UCR.

Joe Chavez for the Highlanders went 2-3 with one walk and scored 2 runs. Kevin Davidson came in for one at bat and made it worthy as he knocked in 2 runs.

March 8, 2013
Lobos 11 – Highlanders 9

The baseball team came out of the gates against the New Mexico Lobos scoring 5 runs in the first inning but would let the lead slip out of their hands en route to a 11-9 defeat.

Junior pitcher Dylan Stuart got the start for Riverside. Stuart went four innings while allowing 8 runs on 11 hits with one strikeout. Garcia (2-1) was credited as the losing pitcher for Riverside. He went 3.1 innings, allowed 3 runs on six hits while striking out two batters.

The Highlanders were zoned in on the ball all day long with 14 hits off of the Lobos’ pitchers for 9 RBIs. Phil Holinsworth went 4-5 with 2 RBIs and scored 1 run. The only other Highlander with 2 RBIs was Bart Steponovich who went 1-3.

March 9, 2013
Highlanders 14 – Lobos 12

In game one of a doubleheader the Riverside baseball team found themselves in another battle with the New Mexico Lobos but crawled their way out to a 14-12 victory.

UCR and New Mexico combined for 26 runs and 30 hits. Riverside had 14 hits, 13 RBIs and walked nine times. Phil Holinsworth drove in 3 runs when he tripled in the second inning and drew a walk in the fourth inning with the bases loaded, earning him the last of his 4 RBIs and marking his fifth multi-RBI game of the season. Highlander Joe Chavez batted a superb 4-5 for his fifth multi-hit game with 3 runs scored, 3 RBIs and a walk.

Riverside knocked in two home runs, one from Clayton Prestridge and Nick Vilter. The Highlanders drove in 5 runs on five hits in the second inning for a 7-4 lead but would later score two more runs in the fourth and fifth inning for a 11- 9 advantage.

After six innings, the Highlanders led 12-11 but would secure their victory when they scored 2 runs in the eighth inning. Rubanowitz drew a walk to start the eighth which was followed by a Vilter hit-by-pitch to put men on first and second base with no outs. Matthew Ellis came up to bat and laid a SAC bunt, shifting Riverside players over a base. Eddie Young smacked a pitch and reached first safely on a fielders choice, but Rubanowitz was gunned out at home. However, moments later Young stole second and teammate Chavez singled through the left side of the field for 2 RBIs, scoring Young and Vilter.

UCR starter Jacob Smigelski recorded his first win of the season going five innings with three strikeouts. Trevor Frank got his third save of the season, going two innings and striking out two batters.  

March 9, 2013
Lobos 10 – Highlanders 7

The baseball team was unable to win the second game of a doubleheader Saturday, March 9 against New Mexico en route to a 10-7 defeat.

Highlander Joe Chavez batted 3-5 with 3 RBIs and scored a run. Devyn Bolasky went 3-4 with 1 RBI and crossed the plate twice. Lobo player Chas Harris was key to New Mexico’s victory as he went 4-5 with 3 RBIs.

Pitcher Ben Doucette started for Riverside and only lasted three innings. He allowed 6 runs on six hits, walked seven batters but also struck out four batters.

UCR took a 7-6 lead at the top of the fourth inning when they scored 5 runs. However, they would let it slip when they allowed the Lobos to score 3 runs in the bottom of the fourth inning for a 9-7 deficit. Highlander Donovan Gonzales (0-3) was credited with the loss.

March 10, 2013
Highlanders 14 – Lobos 9

Once again the baseball team showed their magnificent offense with a 7-run inning in the third to power them to a 14-9 victory.

Starting pitcher Mitch Patito allowed only 1 run on four hits while striking out five batters for his first win on the season.

David Andriese was crucial for the Highlanders, going 4-6 with 1 run scored and driving in 4 runs. Devyn Bolasky went 4-5 with 2 RBIs and crossed the plate four times. Riverside demonstrated teamwork as they got 18 hits and 14 RBIs while drawing six walks.

The Highlanders remain on the road with a three-game series against Portland on Friday, March 15.