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Box
Score
(May
1, 2005) - University of the Pacific snapped UC Riverside's
six-game winning streak, defeating the Highlanders 10-4 Sunday
in the final game of a three-game series Sunday at the Riverside
Sports Complex. After clinching the series with wins in the
first two games, UCR falls to 21-20 overall, 6-6 in the Big
West Conference.
After
failing to get a hit until the sixth and seventh innings in
the previous two games, UOP (19-26, 5-10 Big West) wasted
no time in the finale, scoring twice in the first on three
hits. Will Brindza opened the game with a double down the
leftfield line, scoring three batters later. Justin Baum then
doubled to left-center to bring home Adam Ching, who had earlier
walked. The Highlanders got out of the inning when Baum was
thrown out at home trying to advance from second on Anthony
Jackson's chopped single to short.
UCR
pulled a run back in the bottom of the first after Brett Bigler
singled to start the inning. With two outs, Bigler and Matt
Cunningham executed a hit-and-run with Cunningham singling
down the third base line. Cunningham took a wide turn at first,
drawing a throw from Tigers leftfielder Matt Berezay and enabling
Bigler to score.
The
Tigers added two more runs in the second on consecutive doubles
by Dale Hall and Ramon Glasgow to end UCR starter Marc Rzepczynski’s
day. A single by Ching made it 4-1. Pacific extended its lead
to 6-1 in the fourth on a two-run inside-the-park home run
by Berezay and added another run in the fifth.
UCR
was always chasing the Tigers, as UOP outhit the Highlanders
17-12. Each time UCR pulled a run back, scoring in the sixth
and eighth, Pacific added more runs in the next frame to keep
UCR at bay. Every Pacific starter got a hit, led by three
each by Hall and Brindza.
Bigler
finished the game 3-for-5 while Cunningham, Andrew Martinez,
and Brian Steinmeyer all collected two hits apiece. Louie
Hernandez came off the bench to drive in two runs.
Rzepczynski
fell to 1-1, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks
in just 1 1/3 innings. Matthew Pena (2-2) gave up two runs
on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. Josh Schmidt recorded his
eighth save with 3 2/3 innings of relief, allowing two runs
on four hits.
UCR
stays at home Tuesday for a non-conference game against Cal
State Northridge at 3 p.m. The game is rescheduled from a
February rainout.
(May
2, 2005) - UC Riverside junior Andrew Martinez was named the
Big West Conference’s Player of the Week for the week
of April 24-May 1, it was announced Monday. Martinez went
6-for-13 with one home run and eight runs batted in to help
UCR to three victories in the week.
Martinez,
a 6-2 first baseman/designated hitter from Perris, reached
base in all four UCR games, posting a batting average of .462,
an on-base percentage of .632, and a slugging percentage of
.846. On Tuesday at UNLV, he went 1-for-4 with an RBI and
run scored in an 11-3 victory. He followed that up on Friday
with his second seven-RBI day in three games, going 2-for-3
and driving in seven runs in a 14-0 win over Pacific. The
previous Sunday, Martinez had seven RBI in a 9-8 win at Cal
State Northridge. On this day, he helped break open a 3-0
UCR lead with a bases-clearing double in the fourth inning
and a grand slam in the fifth.
Martinez
was also productive in the final two games of the series.
On Saturday, he was 1-for-1 with a double and two runs as
UCR won its sixth straight game, 10-6. Martinez reached base
in all five plate appearances Saturday thanks to two walks
and twice getting hit by pitches, marking the third straight
game in which he had been plunked. In Sunday’s series
finale, a 10-4 Highlander loss, Martinez was 2-for-5.
Martinez
is hitting .330 this season, second on UCR, and leads the
team with a .395 average in conference play. He is second
on the team with 30 RBI and tied for third with nine doubles
and three home runs.
This
is the first Player of the Week honor for Martinez, who transferred
to UCR this year from Mt. San Jacinto CC. He is the second
Highlander this season to earn that accolade but first to
win it outright, following senior leftfielder Matt Cunningham
Co-Player of the Week honor for March 7-13.
UCR’s
six-game winning streak lifted it to 21-20 this season, the
first time the Highlanders had been over .500 since March
25. The Highlanders are 6-6 in Big West play and tied for
fourth in the conference standings. They play four non-conference
games this week starting with a make-up of a February rain
out against Cal State Northridge at home Tuesday at 3 p.m.
They travel to UC Davis for three games this weekend.
Box
Score
(May
3, 2005) - Cal State Northridge scored 14 runs in the final
four innings to pull away from UC Riverside 19-7 Tuesday afternoon
in a makeup of a February non-conference rainout at the Riverside
Sports Complex. UCR falls back to 21-21 on the season with
the loss.
UCR
grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the first inning thanks to consecutive
singles by Brett Bigler, Aaron Grant, and Nick Salotti to
open the game. Unfortunately, the Highlanders could not capitalize
on having runners on base in the first three innings, grounding
into two double plays. UCR left nine runners on base total
as it tried to chase the game.
CSUN
(16-25-1) climbed level at 1-1 in the top of the second and
pulled ahead with four runs in the third on five hits. UCR
scored one more in the third and pulled back to 5-3 in the
fifth on an RBI double by Andrew Martinez. But Matador 3B
Alberto Quintana made a diving stop of Anthony Claggett’s
liner to strand Martinez at second and end the inning.
The
Matadors jumped on the opportunity, scoring three times in
the top of the sixth to again pull away. Those runs would
prove necessary, as Salotti launched a three-run home run
in the bottom of the frame to make it 8-6 in Northridge’s
favor. The Matadors added three more runs in the seventh,
six in the eighth, and two more in the ninth for the final
margin.
José
Shaw (2-4) took the loss, allowing six runs on nine hits in
5 1/3 innings. Matt Gaylord improved to 2-0 despite pitching
just 3 1/3 innings. He gave up six hits and two runs (one
earned). Jeremy Berg picked up the unconventional save, entering
the game when CSUN led 8-6 and pitching the final three innings.
Salotti
finished the game 2-for-4 with four RBI. Grant was 3-for-4
while Bigler collected two hits and scored four times. Quintana
went 6-for-6 with three RBI for the Matadors.
UCR
continues its non-conference week with a three-game series
at UC Davis this weekend.
Box
Score
(May 6, 2005) - Dave McKae
outdueled Haley Winter as UC Davis downed UC Riverside 1-0
at Dobbins Baseball Complex in Davis. The Highlanders dropped
their third straight game to fall to 21-22 on the season.
Winter (6-6) threw his fourth
complete game of the season but got no run support as the
Highlanders collected six hits. UCR put runners on third in
the first and fourth innings and loaded the bases in the second
but could not break the deadlock.
UCD (22-22) snapped an eight
game losing streak, scoring the lone run in the sixth inning.
Brandon Oliver led off with a bunt single then stole second.
He scored two batters later on Lukas Kirby's double down the
leftfield line.
The Highlanders had a chance
to tie it in the eighth when Brett Bigler led off with a walk,
advancing to second on Nick Salotti's groundout. With two
out, Matt Cunningham sent a single through the right side
and Bigler rounded third with an eye for home. But rightfielder
Dan Baldini's throw was on target to get Bigler at the plate
and end the inning.
Winter struck out seven
and walked two while giving up six hits. McKae improved to
7-4, also scattering six hits and striking out seven in a
complete game. He walked one.
The Highlanders and Aggies
square off in the second game of the three-game series Saturday
at 1 p.m.
Box
Score
(May 7, 2005) - UC Riverside
fell 5-2 to UC Davis Saturday afternoon at Dobbins Baseball
Complex in Davis. The loss is the Highlanders' fourth straight
defeat after a six-game winning streak, setting them back
to 21-23 on the season.
UC Davis (23-22) scored
four runs off of Taylor Bills in the fifth inning to overcome
a 2-1 deficit. Grant Hirneise led off with a single and moved
to second when David Huffman was hit by a pitch. Bills then
loaded the bases when he committed an error trying to field
a sacrifice bunt attempt by Ryan Royster. Brandon Oliver brought
the game level with a bunt single that scored Hirneise. With
the bases still loaded, Daniel Descalso dealt the final blow
with a bases-clearing triple.
The Aggies had taken a 1-0
lead on a first-inning double by Lukas Kirby but the HIghlanders
fought back with two runs in the third. With one out, Kyle
Barratt reached on a throwing error, then stole second with
two outs. Brett Bigler singled him in, later scoring on an
RBI single by Nick Salotti.
Bills dropped to 5-7, allowing
five runs (three earned) on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings.
Michael Potter (4-5) got
the win, pitching five innings of four-hit ball while allowing
both unearned runs. He walked four but UCR could not take
advantage with only six hits total. Justin Fitzgerald got
the final four outs for his first save.
Andy Clay collected two
of the Highlanders' six hits.
The teams close out the
series at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
(May 8, 2005) - Rain forced
the cancellation of Sunday afternoon's baseball game between
UC Davis and UC Riverside at Dobbins Stadium. UC Davis had
captured the first two games of the three-game weekend series.
The Highlanders have lost
four in a row to fall to 21-23 on the season. They return
home this weekend for a three-game Big West Conference series
against UC Santa Barbara.
Box
Score
(May
13, 2005) - UC Santa Barbara broke through for a run in the
12th inning to defeat host UC Riverside, 10-9, Friday night
in a Big West Conference game at the Riverside Sports Complex.
The loss was the Highlanders’ fifth straight and drops
them to 21-24 overall, 6-7 in conference.
Highlander
reliever Anthony Claggett took the loss, but his performance
had to rank among the best turned in by a Highlander pitcher
this season. After playing second base for the first eight
innings, Claggett went to the mound with the bases loaded
and nobody out in the top of the ninth and the Gauchos up
9-8. Claggett struck out C.J. Cook looking and got Matt Emerick
to ground into a double play to get out of the inning unscathed
and set up UCR’s comeback.
The
Highlanders tied the game in the bottom of the ninth on Matt
Cunningham’s one-out single, which scored pinch-runner
Daniel Stange with the tying run. Stange was running for Nick
Salotti, who had singled with one out. Meanwhile, Claggett
continued to send the Gauchos back to the dugout. He struck
out eight in a career-high four innings of work but allowed
the go-ahead run in the 12th on David Harrit’s leadoff
triple and David Figoni’s RBI double.
The
Highlanders, who stranded a pair of runners on base in the
bottom of the 12th, used a trio of clutch hits to jump to
a 4-1 lead in the first inning. Andrew Martinez singled in
Brett Bigler and Aaron Grant with two down, and Brian Steinmeyer
and Anthony Claggett followed with hits to score two more.
Nick Salotti singled in another run in the second.
That
would normally be enough for Highlander ace Haley Winter to
put the game in the vault but UCR’s defense let the
Gauchos (22-26, 4-9 Big West) back into the game over the
next few innings. Santa Barbara tied the game with four runs
in the third, helped by third baseman Andrew Garcia’s
miscue, and the Gauchos took the lead an inning later on another
Garcia error and an errant throw by shortstop Brian Steinmeyer.
Winter,
who entered the game among the conference’s top pitchers
in earned run average, wins, and innings pitched, hung tough,
pitching into the seventh before leaving after allowing a
mammoth two-run homer to C.J. Cook. He allowed 12 hits and
nine runs in 6 2/3 innings but only four runs were earned.
He also walked three and struck out six. Pat Cassa and Adam
Refier got the Highlanders through the seventh and eighth
before Claggett (1-1) finished out.
Gaucho
starter Steve Morlock also weathered the storm, settling in
after allowing five runs in the first two innings. He pitched
into the seventh before leaving, up 9-5, after allowing leadoff
singles to Bigler and Grant. The Highlanders pulled within
a run, 9-8, against reliever Justin Segal on Salotti’s
two-run double and Steinmeyer’s single. Alex McRobbie
blew the save but picked up the win to improve to 2-0.
Salotti,
Grant, and Steinmeyer all had three hits for UCR, who banged
out 15 hits total. Every UCSB starter had at least one of
their 15 total hits, led by Alden Carrithers’ three.
The
extra-inning loss was UCR’s first since Feb. 6, 2004
at Arizona and was the longest game by innings since UCR and
UCSB played 12 innings last April 18.
The
teams go back at it at 6 p.m. Saturday with UCR’s Taylor
Bills (5-7) taking on UCSB’s Michael Martin (5-5).
Box
Score
(May
14, 2005) - One night after a heartbreaking 12-inning loss,
the UC Riverside baseball team made sure there would be no
extra innings Saturday night with a 14-1 victory over visiting
UC Santa Barbara at the Riverside Sports Complex. The win
snaps UCR’s five-game losing streak and puts them at
22-24 overall, 7-7 in the Big West Conference.
The
Highlanders banged out 14 hits and got a solid effort on the
mound from Taylor Bills (6-7). Bills scattered six hits over
eight innings, allowing one run and two walks while striking
out six. He did not allow a baserunner past second base until
the sixth inning, by which time UCR already held a 5-0 lead.
UCR
broke open a close game by scoring 11 runs in the final four
innings. Jeff Dunbar had his first career four-hit game and
drove in a career-high three runs while Nick Salotti had four
RBI off a triple and a seventh-inning bases-clearing triple
that all but sealed the game.
For
the second straight day, UCR jumped out to an early lead,
scoring three runs in the second and two more in the fifth.
Dunbar hit a two-run single to get the ball rolling in the
second and Brett Bigler followed with an RBI single of his
own to make it 3-0, one of his three hits on the day. In the
fifth, Salotti tripled home Aaron Grant with a deep shot to
right-center, scoring on Matt Cunningham’s sacrifice
fly.
After
the Gauchos pulled a run back in the sixth, UCR tacked on
a run in the bottom of the frame on a wild pitch, then poured
on six runs in the seventh. Cunningham, Andrew Martinez, and
Aaron Wible all singled for the first run before Jaime Pedroza
walked with the bases full for the second run. A bobbled fielder’s
choice allowed the third run of the inning to score and should
have been the second out because two batters later, Salotti
delivered the backbreaker, a three-run double off the top
of the wall in left. UCR pushed two more runs across in the
eighth.
Michael
Martin took the loss for UCSB (22-27, 4-10 Big West), dropping
to 5-6 by giving up seven hits and five runs – three
earned – in 4 2/3 innings. Four Gauchos relieved but
could not stop the Highlander attack.
Chad
Decker struck out the side in the ninth for UCR.
The
teams will play the rubber match Sunday at 1 p.m.
Box
Score
(May
15, 2005) - For the second day in a row, UC Riverside hit
double figures on the scoreboard, pounding out 20 hits in
a 13-4 win over visiting UC Santa Barbara Sunday afternoon
at the Riverside Sports Complex. The Highlanders matched their
season-high for hits while winning their second straight game
to improve to 23-24 overall, 8-7 in the Big West Conference.
Less
than 24 hours after gaining 15 hits in a 14-1 win over the
Gauchos (22-28, 4-11 Big West), UCR poured it on
early, scoring six runs in the first three innings. Trailing
1-0 after the top of the first, Brett Bigler led off with
a bunt single, scoring on Aaron Grant’s first-pitch
double to right center. With one out, Matt Cunningham singled
home Grant, then stole second and came home on Andrew Martinez’s
RBI single.
UCR
continued the hit parade in the second and third as RBI singles
by Aaron Wible and Bigler made it 5-1 before Kyle Barratt
and Dunbar executed a fine double steal that saw Barratt swipe
home. That would be all the run support Jose Shaw (3-4) would
need on the mound, as he went 7 1/3 innings, giving up three
runs – none earned – on seven hits while striking
out seven.
The
Highlanders scored twice more in the sixth and five in the
seventh with Brian Steinmeyer driving in all three of his
runs on a double and triple in those frames. Dunbar added
an RBI double of his own, one of eight extra-base hits for
UCR.
Dunbar
followed up his first four-hit game Saturday with a three-hit
performance Sunday. Bigler, Grant, Steinmeyer, and Andrew
Martinez also had three hits apiece while Grant and Cunningham
each scored three times.
Andy
Graham took the loss for UCSB, dropping to 4-6 by giving up
six runs on ten hits in three innings.
UCR
had previously registered 20 hits on March 25 against UC Davis.
The Highlanders have four games next week, starting with a
make-up game against Cal State Northridge at home on Tuesday
at 3 p.m. They then travel to #20 Cal Poly next weekend.
Box
Score
(May
17, 2005) - UC Riverside hit a season-high eight doubles and
posted double digits on the scoreboard for the third straight
game, beating Cal State Northridge 13-5 Tuesday afternoon
in a makeup of a February non-conference rainout at the Riverside
Sports Complex. UCR pulls even on the season at 24-24 with
the win.
Following
wins of 14-1 and 13-4 over the weekend, the Highlanders continued
to light up the scoreboard against the Matadors (18-30-1).
Trailing 3-0 after the top of the first, UCR quickly pulled
even with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Brett Bigler
reached on an error by shortstop Raymond Ravago to open the
inning, then advanced to second on a balk. Aaron Grant walked
and both runners moved up 90 feet on Nick Salotti’s
groundout, coming home on Matt Cunningham’s single up
the middle. Andrew Martinez followed with an RBI double to
center that extended his career-high hitting streak to 15
games.
The
Highlanders scored four more runs in the third to knock out
CSUN starter Matt Gaylord (2-1). After getting two quick out,
Gaylord gave up a solo homer to Brian Steinmeyer, his fourth
of the year. Jeff Dunbar followed with a double to end Gaylord’s
day. Ivan Lopez came on to relieve but hit Andrew Garcia and
walked Jaime Pedroza and Bigler to force in a run. Jimmy Brettl
replaced Lopez, giving up a two-run single to Aaron Grant
to make it 7-3.
The
Matadors grabbed a run back in the fourth but UCR scored three
more times in the bottom of the inning on four consecutive
doubles from Cunningham, Martinez, Steinmeyer, and Dunbar
before an out was recorded. Although CSUN scored again in
the sixth, UCR added a run in the seventh and two more in
the eighth for the final tally.
Marc
Rzepczynski (2-1) survived a shaky first inning in which he
gave up three runs on only one hit. The sophomore lefty settled
down to pitch five innings, allowing five runs – three
earned – on four hits while walking five and striking
out six. Adam Reifer and Anthony Claggett finished off the
victory, giving up just three hits over the final four innings.
Dunbar
had his third consecutive 3-plus hit day, going 3-for-5 with
three RBI and two doubles. Grant was 3-for-3 with two RBI
while Steinmeyer also had three hits. The Highlanders had
a season-high eight doubles, two days after hitting seven
doubles against UC Santa Barbara.
UCR
salvaged the three-game non-conference series against Northridge
after dropping the first two contests. The Highlanders also
swept the Matadors during conference play to finish 4-2 in
the series this season.
UCR
takes its final road trip of the year this weekend, traveling
to San Luis Obispo for three games against #29 Cal Poly.
Box
Score
(May 20, 2005) - UC Riverside
fell 7-4 to #29 Cal Poly in a Big West Conference contest
Friday night at Baggett Stadium in San Luis Obispo. The loss
snaps the Highlanders' three-game winning streak and drops
them to 24-25 on the season, 8-8 in conference play.
UCR scored in the first
inning on Matt Cunningham's RBI single, his team-leading 40th
of the year. Cal Poly (33-18, 11-4 BWC) struck back with three
runs on six hits off of Haley Winter (6-7) in the bottom of
the inning.
The Highlanders struck back
with a run in the top of the third but the Mustangs scored
three more in the sixth to extend their lead to 6-2. Aaron
Grant hit an RBI single in the seventh and later scored on
a passed ball to pull UCR within two runs but again Poly struck
back, scoring an insurance run in the eighth.
Winter gave up seven runs
on 12 hits in 7 1/3 innings to take the loss. Garrett Olson
(11-4) went eight innings, allowing four runs - two earned
- on eight hits. Mike Bille picked up his 12th save.
Cunningham and Brett Bigler
each had two of UCR's eight hits. Andrew Martinez went 1-for-4
to extend his career-high hitting streak to 16 games.
The teams will meet again
at 6 p.m. on Saturday before closing the series at 1 p.m.
on Sunday.
Box
Score
(May 21, 2005) - UC Riverside
defeated #29 Cal Poly 8-2 in a Big West Conference contest
Saturday evening at Baggett Stadium in San Luis Obispo. Taylor
Bills pitched a complete-game four-hitter and the Highlanders
hit a season-high four home runs to improve to 25-25 on the
season, 9-8 in conference play.
Bills (7-7) did not allow
a runner past second base until the ninth inning in a magnificent
122 pitch outing. He walked Brandon Roberts in the first and
gave up a lead-off single to Josh Lansford in the second,
then settled into a groove in which he retired 22 straight
hitters until the ninth inning when he allowed a one-out single
to Sean Alexander. Pinch-hitters Jonathan Woodcox and J.J.
Owen followed with hits to ruin Bills' shutout bid. He struck
out seven and walked one in his third complete game of the
season.
Matt Cunningham had his
second two-homer game of the season, hitting a pair of solo
homers and driving in three runs to raise his team-leading
RBI total to 43. He opened the scoring in the fourth with
a home run to left-center and crushed his tenth of the season
to left in the ninth. Andrew Martinez followed Cunningham's
second shot with a solo dinger of his own to complete the
scoring and give UCR its first back-to-back homers of the
season.
Andy Clay hit a solo home
run in the fifth to make it 2-0 before UCR doubled its lead
with two runs in the seventh. Jeff Dunbar walked to start
the inning and was sacrificed to second on a bunt by Brett
Bigler. Dunbar moved to third on Andrew Garcia's single to
right and scored on a wild pitch by Jimmy Shull that moved
Garcia all the way to third. Cunningham then drove in Garcia
to give UCR a 4-0 lead.
The Highlanders pushed across
two more in the eighth. Clay doubled home Brian Steinmeyer,
who had singled to open the inning. Clay in turn scored two
pitches later on Dunbar's single to center.
Cunningham finished the
game 3-for-5. Martinez was 2-for-5 and extended his hitting
streak to a career-high 17 games with a sixth inning single.
Garcia and Clay also collected two hits each.
Jimmy Shull dropped to 8-6
with the loss, going 6 1/3 innings , allowing four runs -
three earned - on six hits.
The teams will play the
series rubber match at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Box
Score
(May 22, 2005) - UC Riverside
fell 16-6 to #29 Cal Poly in a Big West Conference matchup
Sunday afternoon at Baggett Stadium in San Luis Obispo. The
Highlanders drop to 25-26 on the season, 9-9 in conference
play.
UCR got on the scoreboard
first for the third straight game as Matt Cunningham continued
his RBI streak, driving in a run for the seventh straight
game with a run-scoring single. The lead would not last long,
however, as Poly struck back for three runs in the bottom
of the first. With one out, Jose Shaw hit Brandon Roberts,
who advanced to second on a wild pitch. Two batters later,
Kyle Blumenthal delivered an RBI single. The Highlanders were
then unlucky as the next batter, Josh Lansford, lined a pitch
off of Shaw's leg and Matt Cooper hit a ball to centerfield
that Brett Bigler valiantly dove for but came up short, resulting
in a two-run triple that made it 3-1.
The Highlanders pulled a
run back in the top of the second when Andrew Garcia was hit
by Gary Daley. Garcia moved to third on Bigler's single through
the right side and scored when Daley through the ball into
rightfield on an attempted pickoff at first.
The Mustangs (34-19, 12-6
BWC) knocked Shaw out in the third inning, batting around
and scoring six runs to blow the game open. Jimmy Van Ostrand
drew a leadoff walk, scoring on Kyle Blumenthal's double to
left-center, one of his three doubles on the day. Josh Lansford
followed with a single, ending Shaw's day and bringing on
Adam Reifer with runners on first and third and no out. After
giving up a sacrifice fly to Cooper, the wheels fell off.
With Lansford running, Reifer got Bret Berglund to pop up
to shorstop for the second out and the chance to double up
Lansford. But a balk was called on the pitch, moving Lansford
to second and keeping Berglund at the plate. Berglund took
advantage of the at-bat, hitting a slow roller to third base
that he beat out and moved all the way to third when Andrew
Garcia threw the ball away, allowing Lansford to score. Drew
Gillmore then layed down a suicide squeeze to plate Berglund.
The next batter, Sean Alexander, hit a high fly ball to center
that turned Bigler around and Alexander finished up on third
with the triple. Roberts then singled in Alexander to make
it 9-2 in Poly's favor.
After being staked to a
large lead, Daley could not last long enough to gain the decision.
He left in the fourth inning when UCR scored three more runs.
Daley allowed a double to Brian Steinmeyer then hit Jeff Dunbar
and walked Jaime Pedroza while Steinmeyer scored on a wild
pitch. Bud Norris came on, walking Bigler and Aaron Grant
to force in a run before Nick Salotti's RBI groundout made
it 9-5. Norris struck out Cunningham with runners on second
and third to end the inning.
Cal Poly responded with
three more runs in the fourth and fifth innings to push its
advantage to 15-5. UCR loaded the bases with one out in the
top of the sixth but could not score as Salotti and Cunningham
both flew out. Dunbar singled in a run in the seventh for
UCR.
Shaw (3-5) lasted just two-plus
innings, giving up six runs on six hits. None of the next
three Highlander relievers could stop the bleeding; Reifer
allowed three runs on four hits in 2/3 inning while Anthony
Claggett went 1 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on five hits.
Pat Cassa gave up one run on three hits in 1 2/3 innings.
Norris (5-0) picked up the
victory, allowing one run on four hits in 3 2/3 innings.
Bigler and Steinmeyer combined
for half of UCR's ten hits. Bigler was 3-for-4 and Steinmeyer
collected two hits. Dunbar also had two hits while Andrew
Martinez was 0-for-3, bringing an end to his career-high 17
game hitting streak. Martinez was hit by a pitch in the first
to reach base for the 18th straight game.
UCR returns home for the
final week of the season. The Highlanders open a four-game
homestand against UCLA at 6 p.m. on Tuesday before facing
#1 Cal State Fullerton in a three-game weekend series.
(May
23, 2005) - UC Riverside sophomore Taylor Bills was named
the Big West Conference’s Co-Pitcher of the Week for
the week of May 16-22, it was announced Monday. Bills was
1-0 in his one start, throwing a complete game four-hitter
at #29 Cal Poly on Saturday.
Bills
was outstanding against Cal Poly in recording his third complete
game of the season. After walking a batter in the first inning
and allowing a leadoff single in the second, he retired 22
consecutive Mustang hitters until the ninth inning. Although
he lost his shutout bid by conceding two runs on three ninth
inning hits, Bills finished with a four-hitter, equaling his
season high with seven strikeouts and allowing just the one
walk. The right-hander threw 122 pitches in the 8-2 Highlander
victory.
He
shares this week’s honor with Scott Sarver of Cal State
Fullerton, the second time this season that a Highlander pitcher
has split the prize with Sarver. Junior RHP Haley Winter and
Sarver shared the award on February 27. This is Bills’
first Pitcher of the Week honor and he is the third UCR player
this season to be awarded the accolade, following Winter and
freshman RHP James Simmons on February 13.
Bills
took over the team lead for wins this weekend, evening his
record at 7-7. He has a 4.07 earned run average in 104 innings
pitched. In six Big West Conference starts, Bills is 4-2 with
a 2.91 ERA and two complete games.
UCR
closes out its season with a four-game homestand. The Highlanders
make up a February rainout against UCLA on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
before welcoming newly-crowned Big West Champions and defending
national champions Cal State Fullerton for three games over
the weekend.
Box
Score
(May
24, 2005) - UC Riverside took advantage of two UCLA errors
to split the season series against the Bruins, posting a 3-2
non-conference win Tuesday night in a game rescheduled from
February at the Riverside Sports Complex. The Highlanders
pull back to 26-26 on the season with the victory.
In
a strange game that at one time saw more runs than hits, UCR
took a 3-1 lead despite having only one hit. Trailing 1-0
in the fourth, Brett Bigler led off with a double and advanced
to third on Nick Salotti's sacrifice bunt. Matt Cunningham
then evened the score with a sacrifice fly, recording an RBI
for the eighth straight game.
UCR
pulled ahead with two runs in the fifth without recording
a hit. UCLA starter Brian Rustich walked Brian Steinmeyer
to start the inning. Things got worse for Rustich as Jeff
Dunbar then layed down a sacrifice bunt which the pitcher
fielded and, trying to get Steinmeyer at third, threw the
ball into the leftfield bullpen, allowing Steinmeyer to score
and Dunbar to race all the way to third. Two batters later,
Dunbar scored on Jaime Pedroza's fielder's choice.
UCLA
(15-38) mounted a comeback in the ninth. UCR starter Marc
Rzepczynski walked pinch-hitter Chris Jensen to start the
inning and was pulled for closer Anthony Claggett. Chris Denove
promptly singled off of Claggett and both runners moved up
on a passed ball. With one out, pinch hitter Hector Ambriz
singled to right, bringing home pinch runner Tommy Lansdon.
Seeing the throw home, Ambriz tried for second and got caught
in a rundown. Jonathan Medici, who was running for Denove,
broke for home but was gunned down at the plate. Claggett
then struck out Will Penniall for his fourth save.
Rzepcynski
(3-1) came three outs from his first complete game, giving
up two runs - one earned - on three hits in eight innings,
the longest outing of his career. He also struck out a career-high
eight. Rustich (2-6) lasted four innings, allowing just one
hit and three unearned runs.
Bigler
had two of the Highlanders' three hits on the night.
UCR
closes out the season this weekend, hosting #1 Cal State Fullerton
for a three-game series.
Box
Score
(May 27, 2005) - UC Riverside's
late rally fell short as their upset bid was squashed by #1
Cal State Fullerton 13-7 in a Big West Conference matchup
Friday night at the Riverside Sports Complex. The Highlanders
fall to 26-27 on the season, 9-10 in conference play.
Cal State Fullerton (41-13,
16-3 Big West) clinched the conference title outright by twice
scoring five runs to keep the Highlanders down. took the lead
for good in the fourth with seven singles, batting around
and scoring five runs to go ahead 7-5. The Titans registered
four straight singles to open the inning, then scored the
last three runs with two outs, including the final one on
a safety squeeze.
The Highlanders overcame
a 2-1 deficit by scoring four runs with two outs to take the
lead in the third. After a Brett Bigler walk and Aaron Grant
single, Andrew Martinez delivered a two-run double to left.
Brian Steinmeyer followed with a high home run to leftfield,
his fifth of the season, to give UCR a 5-2 lead.
UCR pulled back to 8-7 in
the bottom of the eighth on an RBI double by Jeff Dunbar and
a run-scoring single by pinch-hitter Louie Hernandez. But
the Titans took advantage of two UCR errors in the top of
the ninth to score five runs and put the game out of reach.
After CSUF took a 2-0 lead
in the top of the first, Matt Cunningham drove in a run in
the first inning with a single to right, recording an RBI
for the ninth straight game.
The Titans hit 13 singles
before registering an extra-base hit off of Haley Winter.
Winter (6-8) left in the eighth inning, allowing eight runs
on 14 hits. He struck out eight and walked one, throwing 128
pitches.
Ricky Romero improved to
12-4, settling down after UCR's early noise. Romero allowed
five runs on five hits in seven innings, striking out nine
in the process. Vinnie Pestano recorded the final four outs
for his 11th save.
Grant went 2-for-3 for the
HIghlanders and reached twice more after getting plunked by
pitches. Steinmeyer and Martinez each drove in two runs.
Justin Turner was 3-for-4
with two RBI for the Titans while Bobby Andrews and Ronnie
Prettyman also collected three hits each. Brandon Tripp and
John Curtis each drove in two runs as well.
UCR and Fullerton will play
the second game of the series Saturday afternoon at 6 p.m.
Taylor Bills (7-7) will go for the Highlanders while Ryan
Schreppel (5-0) will take the mound for the Titans.
Box
Score
(May 28, 2005) - Jeff Dunbar’s
RBI single with one out in the ninth gave UC Riverside a 7-6
come-from-behind victory over top-ranked Cal State Fullerton
in front of 726 fans Saturday evening in a Big West Conference
game at the Riverside Sports Complex. The Highlanders rallied
for two runs in the ninth to improve to 27-27 overall, 10-10
in conference play, with one game remaining.
The Highlanders twice rallied
from deficits to record their sixth victory over the Titans
(41-14, 16-4 Big West) in 11 conference meetings. Fullerton
led 5-1 before UCR pulled even in the seventh, then went back
ahead 6-5 on Brett Pill’s RBI single in the ninth. Riverside
never quit, posting just its third ninth-inning win of the
season.
Facing Titan closer Vinnie
Pestano (3-3), Aaron Grant led off the ninth with a triple
to right. Nick Salotti, who entered the game in a 2-for-29
slump, then drove a 2-0 pitch to right for a double, bringing
Grant home to tie the game and snap Pestano’s 20 1/3
scoreless innings streak. Pestano intentionally walked Matt
Cunningham to create a force play but Andrew Martinez layed
down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners up 90 feet. Pestano
again issued an intentional pass, this time to Brian Steinmeyer,
but Dunbar smacked the pitcher’s first offering through
the drawn-in infield to plate the winning run.
Marc Rzepczynski (4-1) pitched
one inning of scoreless relief, allowing one hit after Taylor
Bills had kept UCR in the first eight innings. Bills allowed
six runs on nine hits and struck out six. He left after hitting
Justin Turner to open the ninth but was tagged for the run
when Pill singled in Turner to put CSUF ahead.
Trailing 5-2 in the seventh,
UCR evened the score with three runs off reliever Wes Roemer.
Roemer allowed a leadoff single to Jaime Pedroza, then hit
Brett Bigler and Aaron Grant to load the bases for Salotti.
The sophomore delivered, singling past a diving Prettyman
at third to bring Pedroza and Bigler home. Cunningham sacrificed
the runners over and Martinez singled past Prettyman’s
outstretched glove to tie the game at 5-all.
Pestano allowed two runs on three hits and two walks in 1/3
inning to take the loss. Ryan Schreppel started the game,
giving up a lone unearned run on five hits and a walk in five
innings. Roemer went three innings, allowing four runs on
four hits.
For the second night in
a row, the Titans played small ball to take the early lead.
They opened the scoring in the second when Danny Dorn doubled
to center, coming around on consecutive bunts. They pushed
three more runs across in the fourth with Dorn again kicking
things off, this time with a leadoff single. A single and
sacrifice bunt brought him home and two more singles by Mike
Curtis and Ronnie Prettyman made it 4-0.
UCR got on the board in
the bottom of the fourth when Salotti singled to open the
inning, scoring three batters later on Brian Steinmeyer’s
single that Sergio Pedroza bobbled in right to allow Salotti
to come home. After Fullerton went ahead 5-1 in the sixth
on another RBI single by Curtis, the Highlanders struck back
in the bottom of the frame on Dunbar’s RBI groundout.
Dunbar finished 1-for-5
with two RBI while Salotti was 3-for-5 with three RBI. Martinez
was 3-for-3. The teams will close out the regular season Sunday
at 1 p.m. as UCR honors Cunningham, it’s lone senior.
Box
Score
(May 29, 2005) - José
Shaw and Daniel Stange combined on a five-hitter and Nick
Salotti homered and drove in four runs as UC Riverside won
its regular season finale over top-ranked Cal State Fullerton
6-2 in front of 535 fans Sunday afternoon at the Riverside
Sports Complex. The Highlanders took two out of three from
the Titans to finish its third straight season above .500
at 28-27 overall, 11-10 in conference play.
UCR continued its home success
against Fullerton (41-15, 16-5 Big West), winning its fifth
game in six outings. Coincidentally, all five wins the Highlanders
have recorded over the Titans in Riverside have been when
CSUF has been ranked #1. The only blemish came on Friday,
when the Titans beat UCR 13-7.
On this day, it was Shaw
(3-5) who kept the high-octane Fullerton offense at bay. The
lefty gave up just one earned run on four hits over six innings,
striking out four in the process. Although he walked four,
he was able to keep the Titans off-balance, throwing 102 pitches
in total.
Shaw got all the offense
he would need in the fifth as UCR overcame a 1-0 deficit to
score five runs off Scott Sarver. Brian Steinmeyer led things
off with a single and moved to second two batters later on
Kyle Barratt’s single. Jaime Pedroza then doubled down
the leftfield line to score Steinmeyer and knot the game at
1-1. Brett Bigler followed with a sacrifice fly to put UCR
ahead and Aaron Grant kept the inning alive with a two-out
single. Salotti then dealt the biggest blow, a towering three-run
homer to left that gave the Highlanders a 5-1 lead.
Fullerton grabbed a run
back in the fourth on a safety squeeze by Neil Walton but
Salotti tacked on an insurance run in the sixth with an RBI
double to right-center.
Daniel Stange pitched the
final three innings, allowing just one hit and one walk while
striking out two in picking up his first career save.
Sarver (9-3) was tagged
for five runs on nine hits and two walks in five innings.
He also struck out five.
Bigler, Salotti, and Jaime Pedroza all collected two hits
apiece for the Highlanders while UCR’s only departing
senior, Matt Cunningham, capped his collegiate career with
a 2-for-3 effort.
UCR avoided just its second
losing season in five years of Division I play and improves
to 7-5 all-time against the Titans.
(May 31, 2005) - UC Riverside
sophomore Nick Salotti was named the Big West Conference’s
Player of the Week for the final week of the regular season,
May 23-29, it was announced Monday. Salotti hit .400 in four
games, going 6-for-15 with three doubles, one home run and
seven runs batted in to help UCR to three victories in the
week.
Salotti, a 6-2 first baseman
from Palm Desert, snapped a 2-for-29 slump to lead the Highlanders
to a series win over #1-ranked Cal State Fullerton. After
hitting a double and scoring a run in Friday’s 13-7
loss, Salotti went a combined 5-for-8 with seven RBI Saturday
and Sunday, both UCR victories. On Saturday, he hit a two-run
single in the seventh that kicked off a three-run rally to
tie the game. He followed that with an RBI double in the bottom
of the ninth that again tied the game as Riverside went on
to a 7-6 win. On Sunday, he crushed a three-run homer as part
of a five-run second inning, later adding an RBI double as
he went 2-for-3 with four RBI in a 6-2 Highlander victory.
He also went 0-for-2 in Tuesday’s 3-2 win over UCLA.
In total, Salotti slugged
.800 for the week and brought his multi-RBI game total to
13. He also collected his team-leading 22nd and 23rd multi-hit
games of the season. Salotti finished the year second on the
Highlanders with a .339 average and eight homers while tying
for the team lead with 46 RBI. He also topped the team with
77 hits and 19 doubles, with the latter leading the Big West
Conference.
This is the first Player
of the Week honor this season for Salotti and second overall,
as he previously shared the honor on March 1, 2004. He is
the third Highlander this season to earn that accolade, following
senior leftfielder Matt Cunningham (March 7-13) and junior
designated hitter Andrew Martinez (April 27-May 2).
UCR ended the season 28-27
and 11-10 in the Big West Conference, good enough for a fourth-place
finish under first-year head coach Doug Smith.
(May 31, 2005) - Five UC
Riverside baseball players earned spots on the 2005 All-Big
West Conference teams, it was announced Tuesday. Juniors Aaron
Grant and Andrew Martinez were selected to the first team
while senior Matt Cunningham and sophomores Brett Bigler and
Nick Salotti were named to the second team.
Grant, a 5-10 rightfielder
from Grand Terrace, was the Highlanders’ most consistent
player in 2005. He started all but one game, leading UCR with
a .357 batting average, 47 runs scored, and .471 on-base percentage.
His batting average and on-base percentages were both third-best
among conference players. He also had a team-high 30 walks
and was hit by pitches 12 times, most among the Highlanders.
In addition, he amassed 70 hits with 15 doubles, two triples,
and one home run while driving in 30 runs and swiping 10 bases.
Grant hit .387 in conference play and had an overall fielding
percentage of .963 while never going more than two games without
a hit.
Martinez, a 6-2 designated
hitter from Perris, came into his own during conference play,
hitting .395 with four home runs and 27 RBI, all team-highs
during the Big West schedule. He also had a team-leading 11
multi-hit games in conference play. Martinez appeared in 46
games total, starting 37, and hit .338 with 40 RBI, both third-highest
on the team. He put together a career-high 17-game hitting
streak between April 22-May 21 and was named the conference’s
Player of the Week for April 25-May 1 after posting his second
seven-RBI game of the season.
The Highlanders’ lone
senior, Cunningham rounds out his career on the second team
after twice earning Honorable Mention status. The 6-2 leftfielder
from Northridge tied for the team lead with 46 RBI while pacing
the Highlander offense with 10 homers. He hit .366 in conference
play, gaining at least one RBI in eight straight games from
May 13-27 and becoming the first UCR player in the Division
I era to twice hit two homers in a game, achieving that feat
on March 8 at Southern Cal and at Cal Poly on May 21. For
the year, Cunningham hit .288 in 52 games and was named Co-Player
of the Week for March 7-13.
Bigler was one of two players
to start every game for the Highlanders, playing all 55 games
in centerfield and as the leadoff hitter. He hit .322 overall
(.333 in conference play) and was second on the team with
75 hits while legging out four triples. He walked 26 times
and took advantage by stealing a team-high 14 bases. In the
field, the 6-3 Bigler posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage,
recording 131 putouts and two assists to run his streak of
consecutive games without an error to 74, dating back to last
season. Hailing from Santa Ana, this is Bigler’s second
all-conference recognition, following last year’s honorable
mention honor.
The only other player to
start every game for UCR, Salotti led all Big West players
with 19 doubles and was tied for second with a team-high 77
hits. He hit .339 with three triples and eight home runs and
tied Cunningham with 46 RBI. He also put together a 17-game
hitting streak from March 6-April 17 and was named the conference’s
Player of the Week for May 23-29. In addition, he had 23 multiple
hit games and 13 games in which he drove in more than one
run. The 6-2 Salotti was selected at the utility position
after appearing at catcher, first base, and designated hitter
for the Highlanders. This is his first all-conference honor
after gaining honorable mention status last season.
All five players were integral
in UCR’s success under first year head coach Doug Smith.
The Highlanders finished the season with a record of 28-27,
placing fourth in the conference with an 11-10 mark.
(June 7, 2005) -UC Riverside
junior right-hander Anthony Claggett and junior left-hander
Chad Decker were selected on day one of the 2005 Major League
Baseball First-Year Player Draft Tuesday. Claggett was taken
in the 11th round by the Detroit Tigers, while Decker was
selected in the 17th round by the San Diego Padres.
Claggett, a native of Palm
Desert and graduate of Palm Springs HS, began his Highlander
career as a second baseman, appearing in 19 games his first
two seasons before adding the title of closer this year. In
22 games in 2005, the switch-hitting second baseman made 20
starts in the field, hitting .233 with three doubles, two
triples, and 13 RBI. As UCR’s closer, the 6-3 Claggett
was 1-1 with four saves and a 4.01 earned run average in 20
appearances. He also struck out 27 batters in 24.2 innings.
“We are very pleased
for Anthony,” Head Coach Doug Smith said. “To
make that kind of jump in one year from an infielder to a
pitcher who is drafted in the 11th round is outstanding.”
Decker threw just 5.2 innings
in 2005 He posted a 3.18 ERA in eight games, walking 10 and
striking out eight. Opponents hit just .190 against him. Decker’s
best season was his freshman campaign, in which he was 4-0
with a 4.35 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 20.2 innings.
“Chad has had some
outstanding outings for us,” Smith said. “We will
be following both contract negotiations closely and wish them
the best of luck with their professional career.”
The draft concludes Wednesday.
(June 8, 2005) - UC Riverside
senior left fielder Matt Cunningham became the third Highlander
selected in the 2005 Major League Baseball First-Year Player
Draft, going to the Houston Astros in the 36th round on Wednesday.
Cunningham joins junior pitchers Anthony Claggett and Chad
Decker, who were each drafted on the first day on Tuesday.
A 6-2 native of Northridge,
Cunningham led UCR with 10 home runs in 2005 and tied for
the team lead with 46 runs batted in while hitting .288. He
also hit ten doubles and stole nine bases in 52 games. After
transferring to UCR from Rice University after his freshman
year, he appeared in 161 games for the Highlanders in three
seasons, posting a career batting average of .312 with 19
homers and 125 RBI along with 27 stolen bases.
“I am thrilled for
Matt,” Head Coach Doug Smith said. “He has worked
exceptionally hard and is very deserving of the opportunity
to go out and play at the next level.”
Cunningham was taken as
the 1094th overall pick. Claggett was selected in the 11th
round by Detroit and Decker was chosen by the San Diego Padres
in the 17th round.
(July 5, 2005) - UC Riverside
junior Andrew Martinez was selected to the American Baseball
Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings All-West Region First
Team, it was announced Tuesday. Martinez was one of 26 players
honored in the West Region, including 11 from the Big West
Conference.
Martinez, a 6-2 designated
hitter from Perris, came into his own during Big West Conference
play, hitting .395 with four home runs and 27 RBI, all team-highs
during the conference schedule. He also had a team-leading
11 multi-hit games in BWC play. Martinez appeared in 46 games
total, starting 37, and hit .338 with 40 RBI, both third-highest
on the team. He put together a career-high 17-game hitting
streak between April 22-May 21 and was named the conference’s
Player of the Week for April 25-May 1 after posting his second
seven-RBI game of the season.
Martinez was selected to
the All-Big West First Team for the first time this year and
is the sixth Highlander to earn All-Region honors at the Division
I level. He follows Tony Festa (2004) and Randy Blood, Ryan
Harvey, Jaymie Torres, and Brian Wahlbrink (2003) as UCR’s
representatives since 2001.
The Highlanders finished
the season with a record of 28-27, placing fourth in the conference
with an 11-10 mark under first year head coach Doug Smith.
The West Region encompasses
34 Division I schools. The 34 head coaches nominate their
players for recognition then vote to select a first and second
team.
2004-05
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