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| Sophomore
Mark Samuelson recorded a career-high four hits in the
8-6 win over Texas Tech. |
(March
26, 2008) - UC Riverside junior reliever D.J. Smith struck
out the final two Texas Tech hitters with the tying runs on
base in the ninth to close out the 8-6 victory Tuesday afternoon.
Sophomore first baseman Mark Samuelson picked up his first
career four-hit game for the Highlanders who improve to 6-12.
Junior second baseman Drew Garcia and freshman catcher Daniel
Pellegrino each drove in two runs in support of Samuelson's
career day. Samuelson also scored three times and junior center
fielder Carl Uhl stole two bases and scored two runs. Freshman
designated hitter Justin Schultz took advantage of his fourth
start of the season, producing two hits, two runs, driving
in one and stole two bags
UCR sophomore Paul Applebee (1-3) earned his first collegiate
win after allowing just three earned runs and striking out
two in his 5.1 innings of work. Smith closed the door on two
Red Raider rallies in his 1.2 innings to pick up his first
career save.
TTU (12-11) got on the board first, using a two-run shot from
Roger Kieschnick in the first inning to take an early 2-0
lead. The Highlanders answered an inning later, as the first
four UCR hitters reached base, bringing home one run and also
set up bases loaded for the top of the order that was coming
up. Uhl followed with a fielder's choice that brought Samuelson
across to tie it at 2-2. During the neSxt at-bat, the Highlanders
executed a perfect first and third double steal as Uhl made
it safely into second and Schultz beat the tag at the plate
to give UCR a 3-2 lead.
Samuelson led off the fourth with his second hit of the day
with a single to center. Schultz then layed down a perfectly
placed bunt and beat it out for a hit and also advance Samuelson
to second. Both runners then moved up a base on another double
steal and Pellegrino followed with an RBI groundout. Freshman
shortstop Trevor Hairgrove followed with and RBI single to
bring across Riverside's second run of the inning. UCR added
single runs in the fifth and sixth on RBI base-hits from Pellegrino
and Garcia to open up a 7-4 lead.
The Red Raiders cut the Highlander lead to 7-5 with a two-out
RBI double but again the UCR offense answered with another
run in the eighth. Uhl led off the eighth with a walk and
then stole second to move into scoring position. The next
two batters produced solid late inning at-bats as sophomore
right fielder Joey Gonzales moved Uhl to third on a ground
out and Garcia brought home Uhl with a sacrifice fly to center
field for an 8-5 UCR lead.
Texas Tech added a run in eighth off of junior reliever Rob
Waite but the biggest out came when the potential tying-run
was gunned down while trying to steal second by Pellegrino
for the second out of inning. Smith had entered the game for
Waite and induced the Red Raider hitter into a ground out
to end TTU rally. Things got tight again an inning later as
Texas Tech doubled and walked with one out in the ninth. Smith
buckled down and struck out the next two hitters to seal up
the victory for UCR.
The Highlanders tied their season-highs of 13 hits and five
stolen bases in the game. UCR returns to California and begins
defense of the their Big West Conference title on Friday with
a three-game series at Cal State Fullerton.
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