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(March
8, 2008) - Freshman starting pitcher Matt Larkins struck out
seven Nevada Wolfpack hitters to lead UC Riverside to a 6-2
win over Nevada in Reno, NV Saturday afternoon. Junior second
baseman Drew Garcia finished the day with four RBI and three
hits including his first career homerun for the Highlanders
(4-9).
Garcia put UCR up early, launching a two-run shot with one
out in first inning to bring home junior Carl Uhl and give
Riverside a 2-0 lead. Nevada (4-6) answered with runs in the
first and second on an RBI single and solo homer to tie it
at 2-2 through two innings.
Uhl led off the Highlander third with a walk and one batter
later Garcia was at it again, lacing a one-out double into
the right center gap, scoring Uhl all the way from first and
regaining the lead for UCR, 3-2. Larkins took control after
that, allowing just three hits over the next five innings
while never facing any real Wolfpack threats. He gave way
to the Highlander bullpen after picking up his career-best
seventh strikeout that ended the seventh
Garcia recorded his third three-hit ball game of the season
with his RBI single in the fifth and the Highlanders added
two insurance runs in the ninth. In the final frame, Uhl tripled
home sophomore Bryan Horst and senior the third baseman followed
with an RBI double that scored Uhl and gave UCR a 6-2 lead.
Sophomore Paul Bargas pitched a perfect eighth and junior
Rob Waite struck out the side after allowing a leadoff single
in the ninth to preserve the UCR win. Larkins (2-1) went seven
innings, allowed only those two earned runs and didn’t
walk a batter in his third collegiate start.
Uhl recorded two hits, stole a base, and scored three times
from his lead-off spot as the Highlanders gave Head Coach
Doug Smith his 99th career victory, all at UCR.
UC Riverside will send sophomore Paul Applebee to the mound
for tomorrow's rubber game set for 12 p.m.
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