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Box
Score
(March 1, 2005) - Senior
Matt Cunningham drove in a career-high seven RBI with a grand
slam and a bases loaded double but #23 USC scored 19 unanswered
runs to beat UC Riverside 21-8 on Tuesday at Dedeaux Field.
Cunningham entered the game
hitting .170 and mired in a 4-for-53 slump but broke out of
it in explosive fashion. After UCR tied the game 1-1 in the
third inning, Cunningham came to the plate with the bases
loaded and cleared them with a double to left-center. The
next inning, Cunningham again batted with the bases loaded
and unloaded, belting a grand slam over the leftfield fence
to give UCR an 8-2 lead.
The Highlanders' lead would
not last long as the Trojans (6-2) scored at least one run
in the third through eighth innings. USC put across four runs
in the fourth, six in the fifth, one in the sixth, and six
in the seventh to take a 19-8 lead. Jeff Clement capped the
USC rally with a grand slam of his own in the seventh.
Richard Aguilar earned his
first career win for the Trojans with 2 1/3 scoreless innings
in relief during a wild game that saw both teams use a combined
15 pitchers. A total of 22 walks were issued on the night
with UC Riverside pitchers accounting for 14 free passes.
UCR used nine pitchers in the game while USC went through
six of its own on the mound.
Both starting pitchers gave
up four runs. USC’s Jack Spradlin allowed five hits in 2 1/3
innings, walking three and striking out one. Jose Shaw scattered
four hits and walked four while striking out two for UCR.
Pat Cassa (1-3) allowed four runs on three hits and two walks
in 2/3 inning. The 21 runs were the most allowed by the Highlander
staff since giving up 17 at Nevada on March 28, 2003.
Cunningham finished 2-for-4
with 7 RBI, one more than his previous career high of six,
set on February 28, 2003 in a 19-5 win over San Francisco.
UCR (7-8) completes its
seven-game road trip with a three-game trip to #23 Oregon
State this weekend.
(March
2, 2005) - UC Riverside junior Haley Winter was named the
Big West Conference’s Co-Pitcher of the Week for the
week of February 21-27, it was announced Tuesday. Winter was
1-0 in his one start, gaining the win in UCR’s 3-1 upset
at #9 University of Arizona on Saturday.
Winter
was masterful in helping the Highlanders to the series win
over the Wildcats, who came into the weekend averaging over
11 runs a game. He threw a complete game five-hitter and narrowly
missed a shutout. After allowing just three hits and no runs
through the first eight innings, he gave up two hits and a
run with two outs in the ninth to lose his shutout bid. Winter
struck out three and walked one.
He
shares this week’s honor with Scott Sarver of Cal State
Fullerton. This is the first time that Winter has been named
Pitcher of the Week and he is the second Highlander to be
so honored this season, joining teammate James Simmons, who
was recognized for his achievements the week of February 7-13.
In
addition to his Big West accolade, Winter was also featured
on the Collegiate Baseball Foundation’s weekly honor
roll for March 1. The honor roll is a new weekly list highlighting
the top performances by collegiate baseball players.
UCR
has lost two in a row to drop to 7-8 this season. They are
in the midst of a seven-game road trip and eight consecutive
games against ranked opponents. The Highlanders travel to
Oregon State this weekend for a three-game set against the
24th-ranked Beavers.
Box
Score
(March 4, 2005) - UC Riverside
ended #24 Oregon State's winning streak Friday with a 3-2
victory at Goss Stadium. The Highlanders overcame a 2-1 deficit
with runs in the eighth and ninth to win and improve to 8-8.
Brett Bigler and Aaron Grant
each collected two hits ashe Highlanders took a 1-0 lead in
the first after back-to-back two-out singles by Nick Salotti
and Grant. Salotti scored when the ball was thrown away.
OSU (9-2) got even in the
bottom of the fourth off UCR starter James Simmons when Mitch
Canham singled through the right side with one out, was balked
to second and scored on a double to centerfield by Shea McFeely.
The Beavers then took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh
on Billy Munich's home run.
The Highlanders struck back
in the top of the eighth. With one out, Kyle Barratt stole
second and then advanced to third on Matt Cunningham's infield
single. Barratt then came home on Brian Steinmeyer's RBI fielder's
choice.
UCR took the lead in the
ninth off reliever Kevin Gunderson (2-1). Bigler doubled to
left and then stole third before pinch-hitter Andrew Martinez
knocked him in with a sacrifice fly.
Simmons got the win, going
8 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits and two runs. Anthony Claggett
finished it off in the ninth for his second save.
The Beavers and Highlanders
continue their series Saturday at 1 p.m.
Box
Score
(March
5, 2005) - Four pitchers combined on a four-hitter as #24
Oregon State defeated UC Riverside 5-2 Saturday at Goss Stadium
in Corvallis, OR. Errors again cost the Highlanders as they
committed three and squandered a 2-0 lead to fall to 8-9 on
the year.
UCR
got off to an excellent start as Brett Bigler and Andrew Martinez
hit back-to-back doubles to lead off the game. After two groundouts,
Martinez scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-0. The Highlanders
would not push a runner past second again, mustering only
two more hits the rest of the day.
Oregon
State (10-3) struck back with three runs in the fourth to
take the lead. After Chris Campos led off with a walk and
Shea McFeely singled up the middle, Joey Ledesma doubled just
inside first base to drive in one run and Mike Lissman’s
grounder drove in the tying run with Lissman reaching on an
error on the play. Darwin Barney’s groundout then drove
in another run to make it 3-2.
The
Beavers added to their lead in the bottom of the sixth. Ledesma
singled through the left side to start the inning, then Chris
Kunda reached on a two-out error. Canham drove them both home
with a triple to centerfield to make it 5-2.
Starter
Haley Winter went seven innings and allowed five runs (two
earned) on seven hits and four walks while striking out three
in falling to 2-3. Anton Maxwell (2-0) pitched 5 1/3 innings,
allowing the two runs on three hits. Jake McCormick, Nate
Fogle and Kevin Gunderson combined to allow one hit over the
final 3 2/3 innings.
The
teams complete their series on Sunday with a 1 p.m. start.
Box
Score
(March
6, 2005) - Oregon State scored five runs in the bottom of
the eighth Sunday to beat UC Riverside 7-2. The 24th-ranked
Beavers won the last two games to take the weekend series
at Goss Stadium in Corvallis.
With
the game tied 2-2, OSU (11-3) sent ten batters to the plate
in the eighth to break the game open. After a walk and a single,
a throwing error by UCR 2B Andrew Garcia loaded the bases.
Taylor Bills (2-3) then balked in the go-ahead run. Anthony
Claggett replaced Bills and gave up back-to-back singles
by pinch-hitter Mike Lissman and Tyler Graham to make it 5-3.
An intentional walk loaded the bases but Claggett struck out
Joey Ledesma for the second out. The next batter, Andy Jenkins,
delivered the knock-out blow, a two-run single to left.
UCR (8-10) twice fought
back from deficits in the game. After the Beavers took the
lead in the third inning on an RBI single by Jacoby Ellsbury,
the Highlanders tied it up in the fourth when Aaron Grant
scored on a wild pitch. OSU went back in front 2-1 in the
seventh when Ellsbury hit an RBI double. Again UCR responded,
scoring once in the top of the eighth when Nick Salotti led
off with a double, advanced to third on Grant's single, and
scored on Matt Cunningham's sacrifice fly.
The Highlanders had a chance
to rally back in the ninth but Grant lined out with the bases
loaded to end the game.
Nate Fogle (2-1) got the
win in relief for the Beavers, allowing one hit and no runs
in 1 2/3 innings. Jonah Nickerson had gotten the start, allowing
one unearned run on two hits and striking out seven in 6 1/3.
Bills gave up five runs (four earned) and six hits in 7 1/3
while walking five and striking out two.
UCR
returns home to face #23 Southern Cal Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Box
Score
(March
8, 2005) - Senior outfielder Matt Cunningham continued his
hot hitting against Trojan pitching, blasting two home runs
and driving in three as UC Riverside defeated #20 Southern
California Tuesday night at the Riverside Sports Complex.
In two games against USC this year, Cunningham is 5-for-7
with three homers and 10 RBI.
Just
one week ago, Cunningham delivered a grand slam and seven
RBI in UCR’s 21-8 loss at USC. Tonight, he gave the
Highlanders a 2-1 lead in the second inning with a solo home
run to straightaway center. After the Trojans overcame a 4-1
deficit to pull to 4-3, Cunningham connected on a two-run
shot in the seventh to give UCR some breathing room, 6-3.
UCR
starter Jose Shaw (1-0) overcame a shaky first inning in which
he gave up a lead-off single and two walks to fall behind
1-0. The Highlanders answered back by scoring one run in each
of the first four innings, capped by freshman second baseman
Jaime Pedroza’s first career home run, a solo shot in
the fourth.
USC
(7-5) scored once in the fifth on Cyle Hankerd’s double
and added another run on Hankerd’s RBI single in the
seventh. Cunningham made sure to keep UCR in the lead, however,
answering the last run with his team-leading fifth dinger
in the seventh. UCR tacked on a couple more runs in the eighth
on junior outfielder Aaron Grant’s two-run double.
Cunningham
finished 3-for-3 while Grant also collected three hits to
extend his hitting streak to 10 games. Nick Salotti collected
his seventh multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Hankerd
and Blake Sharpe each had two hits for the Trojans.
Shaw
went 6 2/3, allowing three runs on six hits for his first
win of the year. Anthony Claggett survived a shaky ninth in
which USC loaded the bases with one out. Down 3-0 in the count
to Hankerd, Claggett came back to strike him out then got
Daniel Perales to ground out to end the game.
Michael
Friedman (1-1) took the loss, allowing three runs (two earned)
on four hits while striking out five in 2 2/3 innings.
UCR (9-10) went 4-4 on its string of eight straight games
against ranked opponents. The Highlanders travel to Sacramento
State for two games this weekend, starting Friday.
Box
Score
(March
11, 2005) - Sophomore 1B Nick Salotti and senior OF Matt Cunningham
each went 2-for-4 with a home run and James Simmons scattered
eight hits as UC Riverside won its second straight game, beating
Sacramento State 5-2 at Hornet Field. The win boosts the Highlanders’
record back to .500 on the season at 10-10.
Salotti
got the ball rolling in the top of the first inning, hitting
a two-run homer, his fifth of the year, off Ethan Katz (1-4).
Cunningham increased the lead to 3-0 in the fourth, singling
up the middle, stealing second, and then scoring on Brian
Steinmeyer’s single to left.
The
Hornets (7-10-1) struck back with two runs in the bottom of
the fourth on Matt Wilson’s two-run blast. The Highlanders
pulled away with a run in the fifth on Salotti’s RBI
double before Cunningham led off the sixth with a solo shot,
his team-leading sixth home run of the season and third this
week.
Simmons
(3-1) won his second straight start, allowing eight hits over
7 1/3 innings. The freshman righthander struck out four and
his only blemish was Wilson’s home run. Adam Reifer
relieved in the eighth with one out and two on and got consecutivefly
ball outs to centerfield. Anthony Claggett had a one-two-three
ninth to earn his third save.
Katz
went six innings, allowing five runs on nine hits and striking
out four.
The
teams complete their series on Saturday with a 1 p.m. start.
Box
Score
(March
12, 2005) - Senior OF Matt Cunningham hit his fourth home
run of the week and junior RHP Haley Winter went eight strong
innings as UC Riverside won its season-high third straight
game, defeating Sacramento State 7-1 at Hornet Field on Saturday.
The win boosts the Highlanders’ record above .500 for
the first time since February 26 11-10.
After a scoreless first
three innings, UCR got on the board first with an unearned
run with two outs in the fourth. Consecutive singles by sophomore
1B Nick Salotti and junior OF Aaron Grant put two runners
on and then a double steal moved them both into scoring position.
After junior DH Andrew Martinez was hit to load the bases,
junior SS Brian Steinmeyer grounded to the second baseman,
who committed an error to allow Salotti to score. The inning
ended when Grant was tagged out at home on a fielder's choice.
Riverside added to its lead
with two runs in the fifth. Sophomore OF Brett Bigler singled
to left, then stole second. Salotti was hit by a pitch and
another double steal put the runners on second and third.
Grant then delivered a single, one of his three hits on the
day, to left to drive in Salotti. Another double steal allowed
Bigler to score and Grant to move to second, putting UCR ahead
3-0.
The Highlanders broke the
game open in the seventh when Cunningham blasted his team-leading
seventh home run to leftfield, a three-run shot. Cunningham
has now homered in three straight games, driving in seven
runs in the process.
Sacramento State (7-11-1)
finally got to Winter (3-3) in the eighth inning, putting
together three consecutive singles to score its only run.
The Highlanders tacked on another run in the ninth on Salotti's
double to right center that scored Bigler.
Winter scattered eight hits
over eight innings and struck out five in gaining the win.
Matt Campbell dropped to 1-2 on the season for the Hornets,
allowing ten hits and six runs (five earned) over seven innings.
UCR
takes an extended layoff for finals and Spring Break, returning
to action with three games against UC Davis March 24-26 at
the Riverside Sports Complex.
(March
15, 2005) - UC Riverside senior outfielder Matt Cunningham
was named the Big West Conference’s Co-Player of the
Week for the week of March 7-13, it was announced Tuesday.
Cunningham went 6-for-12 with four home runs and seven runs
batted in to help UCR to three victories in the week.
Cunningham, a 6-3 leftfielder from Northridge, was instrumental
in leading UCR to its first three-game winning streak of the
year. On Tuesday, he registered his first career multi-homer
game, hitting two against #20 Southern California in an 8-3
win. Cunningham finished the game 3-for-3 with three RBI and
two runs scored as UCR avenged its loss the previous week
to USC. Cunningham is 5-for-7 with three home runs and ten
RBI in two games against the Trojans this season.
Cunningham
followed Tuesday’s performance with home runs in each
of the Highlanders’ weekend wins at Sacramento State.
On Friday, he was 2-for-4 with a solo HR, two runs scored,
and a stolen base in UCR's, 5-2, victory. He concluded the
week with a three-run home run Saturday in a 7-1 win over
the Hornets as UCR improved to 10-0 all-time against Sacramento
State. For the week, Cunningham had a slugging percentage
of 1.500 and raised his season batting average 47 points.
In
addition to his Big West accolade, Cunningham was also featured
on the Collegiate Baseball Foundation’s weekly honor
roll for March 15. The honor roll is a new weekly list highlighting
the top performances by collegiate baseball players.
He
shares this week’s Big West honor with Sergio Pedroza
of Cal State Fullerton. This is the first time that Cunningham
has been named Player of the Week and he is the first Highlander
to earn the honor since Nick Salotti exactly a year ago today.
Cunningham becomes the third UCR player recognized by the
conference, following pitchers Haley Winter and James Simmons,
who both earned Pitcher of the Week honors earlier this season.
UCR’s
three-game winning streak has lifted it to 11-10 this season.
The Highlanders take a 12-day layoff from competition for
finals and Spring Break, returning to action with a three-game
home series March 24-26 against UC Davis.
Box
Score
(March
24, 2005) - UC Riverside saw its three-game winning streak
halted at the hands of UC Davis’ sixth consecutive win,
13-1, Thursday night at the Riverside Sports Complex. The
loss drops the Highlanders to 11-11 on the season.
Both
teams entered the game having not played in more than a week.
The layoff seemed to suit the Aggies (13-9) better, as they
jumped out with five runs in the first inning. Ryan Royster
led off with a single and was sacrificed to second before
Daniel Descalso singled. Lukas Kirby then doubled just inside
the third-base bag to score Royster and Descalso. After a
popup, UCR starter Taylor Bills (2-4) hit Daniel Baldini,
then walked the next two batters to force in a run. David
Huffman followed with a two-run single to make it 5-0.
The
Highlanders scored their only run in the third when sophomore
OF Brett Bigler scored on junior RF Aaron Grant’s fielder’s
choice to first.
UCD
added five more runs in the fifth thanks to two UCR errors
and scored three more in the seventh. The Highlanders committed
six errors total, the most in a single game since committing
seven on February 17, 2004 against USC. UCR hitters also struck
out 12 times.
Bigler
finished the day 3-for-4 and scored the lone UCR run. Descalso
was 3-for-5 with two RBI for the Aggies while Hanke also was
3-for-5. Kirby finished 2-for-5 with three RBI.
Bills
allowed ten runs (six earned) on ten hits while walking two
and hitting three in 4 2/3 innings. Dave McKae improved to
4-1 for UC Davis, allowing one run on six hits in seven innings
while striking out 10.
The
teams continue their series at 1 p.m. on Friday and conclude
Saturday at 1 p.m.
Box
Score
(March
25, 2005) - UC Riverside banged out a season-high 20 hits
and posted their highest runs total of the year in a 16-2
victory over UC Davis Friday afternoon at the Riverside Sports
Complex. The win boosts UCR back above .500 at 12-11 and snaps
the Aggies’ six-game winning streak.
Less
than 24 hours after losing 13-1 to UC Davis, the Highlanders
bounced back by breaking out their bats. Every UCR starter
collected at least one hit, led by sophomore OF Brett Bigler,
who was 4-for-6 with four RBI. Sophomore 1B Nick Salotti and
junior SS Brian Steinmeyer each went 3-for-5 with an RBI apiece.
UC
Davis (13-10) took a 1-0 lead in the second when Lukas Kirby
led off with a single and advanced to third on Aaron Hanke’s
double down the leftfield line. Daniel Baldini brought Kirby
home with a sacrifice fly to left but UCR starter Haley Winter
stranded Hanke at third by striking out Tyler LaTorre and
getting Michael Jacobellis to fly out to end the inning.
UCR
took its first lead of the series by scoring five runs in
the third. Junior OF Andy Clay led off with a single to center
before freshman C Jeff Dunbar reached on a bunt single. The
next batter, junior INF Anthony Claggett, reached on a fielder’s
choice as Clay was thrown out at third on his attempted sacrifice
bunt. Claggett and Dunbar then executed a fine double steal
to put each in scoring position and Bigler knocked them home
with a single, advancing to second on the throw. Junior RF
Aaron Grant plated Bigler with a single to left, then stole
second and advanced to third on a balk. After Salotti struck
out, junior DH Andrew Martinez lifted a fly ball to center
that should have ended the inning. But Aggie CF David Huffman
lost the ball in the sun, enabling Grant to score. Steinmeyer
singled Martinez home to give UCR at 5-0 lead.
The
Highlanders batted around in the fifth, scoring six runs.
Bigler got the inning started with a bunt single and Grant’s
sacrifice bunt attempt was bobbled by Daniel Descalso, putting
runners on first and second with no outs. A single by Salotti
scored Bigler and sophomore pinch-hitter Louie Hernandez delivered
the knockout blow with a two-run double to left. Three batters
later, Dunbar singled with the bases loaded to score another
run. With one out, Claggett grounded into what would have
been an inning-ending double play but the Aggies could only
get the out at second, prolonging the inning. Bigler followed
with his second single of the inning to make it 11-1.
Bigler
added another RBI in the seventh, knocking in Claggett, who
had doubled. After Davis pulled a run back in the eighth,
the Highlanders added four more in the bottom of the frame,
highlighted by Clay’s two-run double off the wall in
center.
Winter
went seven strong innings, allowing five hits and one run
while striking out seven to improve to 4-3. Michael Potter
(2-3) took to the loss for the Aggies, giving up seven runs
(six earned) on eight hits in 4+ innings.
The
teams conclude their series at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Box
Score
(March
26, 2005) - UC Davis beat UC Riverside 6-2 to take the three-game
series Saturday afternoon at the Riverside Sports Complex.
The loss drops UCR to 12-12 on the season.
After
the first two games ended in lopsided blowout wins for each
team, defense was the key in this one. The Aggies (14-10)
got on the board first, scoring three times in the second
thanks to two Highlander errors. Sean Rooney led off with
a single. Tyler LaTorre followed with a grounder to second
but shortstop Brian Steinmeyer dropped the throw on the attempted
double play, putting runners on first and second with no out.
Kyle Irving then singled in Rooney for the first run. After
Matt Dempsey walked to load the bases, third baseman Kyle
Barratt bobbled David Huffman’s grounder as he tried
to rush a throw to the plate. A sacrifice fly by Brandon Oliver
put the Aggies up 3-0 but Jose Shaw got out of the inning
with consecutive flyouts.
Davis
added to its lead in the seventh with three more runs. The
Aggies loaded the bases without the ball leaving the infield
on two infield singles and a fielder’s choice. A sacrifice
fly brought home the fourth run and UCR would have gotten
out of the inning but Steinmeyer booted a grounder, reloading
the bases. Irving then delivered a two-run single to blow
the game open.
The
Highlanders managed to push across two runs in the bottom
of the seventh, loading the bases on a Steinmeyer walk, Barratt
single, and a single by leftfielder Andy Clay. Catcher Jeff
Abney then walked to force in the first UCR run. Second baseman
Anthony Claggett followed with a sacrifice fly to right for
a second run but centerfielder Brett Bigler struck out to
end the inning.
UCR
struggled against UCD starter Vince DeCoito, managing just
one hit over the first six innings. DeCoito improved to 3-2,
going 6 1/3 innings and allowing two runs on four hits. Shaw
(1-1) was the unlucky loser, allowing six runs (one earned)
on eight hits over 6 1/3 innings. He also struck out six.
UCR
begins Big West Conference play next weekend, traveling to
Long Beach for a three-game series starting Friday at 6:30
p.m.
2004-05
Baseball Archives
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