| 2005-06
Baseball Archives
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(March
3, 2006) - UC Riverside again failed to score in the
first game of a weekend series, falling 1-0 to #25 Oklahoma
in 10 innings Friday at Dale Mitchell Park in Norman, OK.
The loss drops the Highlanders to 9-6 on the season while
the Sooners improve to 10-4.
Oklahoma scored the only
run of the game in the bottom of the tenth off UCR sophomore
LHP Dan Runzler (2-1). OU’s Ryan Rohlinger chased strike
three to open the inning but it got away from the catcher
and Rohlinger ended up on first. After a sacrifice bunt moved
him over, Runzler intentionally walked Jackson Williams to
create a force play. Russell Raley took the very next pitch
to right, loading the bases for Ryan Mottern. Mottern again
swung on the first pitch, singling to right field to score
Rohlinger and end the game.
Daniel McCutchen (3-2) went
the distance to gain the win. McCutchen struck out six and
walked two while allowing five hits. Runzler gave up the single
run on three hits and two walks in 2 1/3 innings.
After winning a 1-0 decision
two Fridays ago at Santa Clara, the Highlanders have dropped
consecutive 1-0 contests on the subsequent two Fridays. On
this day, UCR wasted another outstanding outing by sophomore
RHP James Simmons, who matched his career high with 10 strikeouts
while allowing just three hits in seven innings. He did not
give up a walk and threw 118 pitches in the no-decision.
The Highlanders had one
chance early, putting a runner on third with one out in the
third inning, but could not get him home. They did not get
a runner past second base the rest of the game.
UCR remains winless in extra
inning games this season. The Highlanders lost 3-2 in 13 innings
at Santa Clara on February 19.
Junior OF Brett Bigler collected
two of UCR’s five hits. Rohlinger also had two hits
for OU.
The teams continue their
weekend series tomorrow with an 11 a.m. game (Pacific Time)
that features UCR’s Haley Winter (1-0) against OU’s
Steve Guerra (4-0). The series concludes Sunday at 11 a.m.
with Taylor Bills (1-0) on the mound for the Highlanders,
matched up against P.J. Sandoval (1-3) for the Sooners.
(March
4, 2006) - UC Riverside lost its second straight game,
falling 7-4 at #25 Oklahoma Saturday afternoon at Dale Mitchell
Park in Norman, OK. The Highlanders fall to 9-7 while the
Sooners improve to 11-4.
Steven Guerra improved to
5-0 and Joe Dunigan provided two RBI as the Sooners gained
their fifth home win in six chances. Guerra lasted six innings
and fanned four batters on Saturday after allowing one earned
run off eight hits and zero walks.
After a scoreless first
inning, OU jumped out on top 1-0 thanks to Dunigan’s single
up the middle which plated Kody Kaiser. The Sooners would
build a 2-0 lead on Ryan Rohlinger’s third round-tripper of
the season in the third inning, before the Highlanders scored
their first run of the series in the fourth frame.
The Highlanders came into
the weekend series averaging six runs a game but went 13 innings
before scoring a run on OU. The UC Riverside drought against
the Sooners ended when junior INF Kyle Barratt doubled home
junior 1B Nick Salotti in the fourth to make it 2-1.
The Sooners quickly countered
in the bottom half of the fourth inning on Dunigan’s second
RBI of the game, a double to right-center field that missed
clearing the wall by a foot. Jackson Williams scored on the
play to give the Sooners a 3-1 lead and shortly after, Dunigan
came home on a throwing error by UCR senior RF Aaron Grant.
The error was the first of two mistakes for the Highlanders
on the day.
Highlander senior starter
Haley Winter (1-1) was chased from the game after 4 2/3 innings.
Winter gave up five runs, three earned, on eight hits and
one walk. Junior LHP Pat Cassa tossed the remaining 3 1/3
innings with two earned runs off three hits.
Once Guerra left the game
in the seventh, UCR made things a little bit closer with three
runs off the Sooner pen. OU was ahead 6-1 before the Highlanders
tagged reliever Kevin Duke for one run in the seventh. UCR
had the bases loaded in the fram but could only manage one
run. Senior INF Brian Steinmeyer connected for his second
home run of the season, a two run shot, in the ninth off Jimmie
Rollins but that would be where the Highlander rally ended.
(March
5, 2006) - In a game that saw the lead change hands
on three occasions, the No. 25 Oklahoma Sooners rallied from
a two-run deficit to defeat UC Riverside, 7-6, on Sunday to
complete the three-game series sweep. It was the first-ever
sweep for OU over UC Riverside and the victory also improved
the Sooners’ record to 6-3 against the Highlanders. OU also
improved to 12-4 overall this season, while UCR dropped to
9-8.
After OU took an early 2-0
lead, the Highlanders posted four runs in the second inning,
capped by a three-one home run by junior OF D.J. Hollingsworth,
the first of his career. UCR's lead would not last, as OU
reclaimed the lead with a three-run fifth through Ryan Rohlinger’s
RBI single and Joe Dunigan’s two-run triple. Any hope for
a UCR comeback were made more difficult when Oklahoma tacked
on two more runs in the sixth to pull ahead 7-4. That chased
UCR junior starter Taylor Bills (1-1).
UCR rallied for two runs
in the top of the seventh on a passed ball and RBI single
by junior 1B Nick Salotti, then loaded the bases in the top
of the ninth inning. OU’s closer Will Savage entered the game
in the ninth inning with one out and immediately gave up a
double to right center, which put Hollingsworth, who singled
earlier in the inning off Nate Hammons, on third base. Savage
then intentionally walked senior OF Aaron Grant to set up
the double play. Instead of the double play, Savage struck
out pinch hitter Andrew Martinez with three fastballs and
followed that up with sophomore INF Aaron Wible grounding
into a force out at second base to end the game.
P.J. Sandoval (3-1) made
the start for OU and lasted 5 1/3 innings before giving way
to Joseph Hughes in the six inning. Hughes entered the game
with runners on first and second and one out and froze consecutive
batters to end the frame with two punch outs. Savage earned
his fifth save of 2006 and completed a solid outing by OU’s
bullpen, which allowed just one earned run (two overall) over
3 2/3 innings.
Sophomore RHP Adam Reifer
entered the ball game in the sixth inning after starter Bills
was tagged for seven runs off 10 hits over 5 1/3 innings.
Sophomore LHP Dan Runzler and junior RHP Daniel Stange stemmed
the OU offense by throwing the final 1 2/3 innings without
allowing a run.
Rohlinger led the Sooner
charge with a 3-for-4 day at the plate while Aaron Reza and
Kody Kaiser each contributed two hits.
Senior INF Brian Steinmeyer
had a 3-for-5 day while Hollingsworth and sophomore INF Jaime
Pedroza had two hits apiece.
(March
9, 2006) - The UC Riverside Highlanders swept a non-conference
doubleheader from Brigham Young University Thursday, winning
the opener 7-3 and taking the nightcap 2-1 in front of 198
fans at the Riverside Sports Complex.
The Highlanders improved
to 11-8 on the season, while BYU is now 3-11.
In the opener, Highlander
sophomore starter James Simmons continued his pitching brilliance,
allowing just two hits and striking out seven over eight innings
of work. Simmons had a no-hitter through five innings, losing
it in the sixth on a blooper by BYU catcher Casey Nelson that
fell just inside the right field line. Simmons, who improved
to 4-1 on the season, saw his ERA fall to 1.04 on the season.
Freshman reliever Matt Montgomery
was roughed up a bit in his inning of relief, allowing three
runs on a pair of hits and a pair of walks.
The Highlanders got to BYU
starter Patrick Wells (1-3) for a pair of runs in the third
and a single run in the fourth. In the third Brett Bigler's
sacrifice fly tallied D.J. Hollingsworth, who had doubled
and stolen third. Moments later Aaron Grant reached on an
error by the second baseman, scoring Brian Steinmeyer. In
the fourth UCR scored when Nick Salotti led off with a double
and came home an out later on a Jaime Pedroza fielder's choice.
The Highlanders added three
runs in the seventh and a single run in the eighth to put
the game out of reach.
The nightcap was a pitchers
duel for five innings. BYU's Jesse Craig faced just one over
the minimum, allowing a pair of hits, while UCR starter Pat
Cassa allowed just one hit over six innings, also facing one
over the minimum. The Highlanders finally broke through against
Craig in the bottom of the sixth as Drew Garcia chopped a
single over third and Pedroza beat out a bunt for a hit as
Craig's throw to first hit him in the back. Following a Hollingsworth
bunt, Bigler singled through the drawn in infield to score
Garcia. However, Craig settled down and got out of the inning
without further damage.
The Cougars got on the board
in the top of the seventh as Adrian Molina led off with a
single and was sacrificed to second. Kasey Ko followed with
an infield single, and with a 1-1 count on Ben Saylor, Dan
Runzler came in to relieve Cassa. But Saylor dinked the ball
up the middle for an RBI single to tie the game at 1-1. Runzler
loaded the bases and went to a 3-1 count on J.T. Musso. Musso
then stroked a line drive to right, but Aaron Grant made a
spectacular diving catch to end the inning.
UCR retook the lead in the
bottom of the eighth as Pedroza smoked a double to right center
off of Craig, and was sacrificed to third by Hollingsworth.
Bigler then struck again, stroking another line drive through
the left side past the drawn in infield, then taking second
when Kent Walton non-chalanted his throw to the cutoff man,
giving the HIghlanders a 2-1 lead.
That was all they would
need, as Daniel Stange came in to close the door in the ninth
for his fifth save.
The games were played in
rapid fashion, as both ended in an identical 2:22.
The three game series concludes
Friday at 3:00 PM.
(March
9, 2006) - Thursday's single baseball game between
UC Riverside and Brigham Young has been changed to a doubleheader
due to impending rain. The first game will start at 3 p.m.
Thursday with the second game following approximately 1/2
hour after the conclusion of the first.
The change was made due
to heavy rain forecast in the Riverside area. Weather permitting,
Friday's game will remain at 3 p.m. with Saturday's game being
moved to Thursday.
(March
10, 2006) - The BYU Cougars salvaged the third game of the
series with UC Riverside Friday, posting a 9-5 win in front
of 106 fans at the Riverside Sports Complex Friday.
BYU improved to 4-11 on
the season, while the Highlanders fell to 11-9.
BYU's Brandon Christianson
improved to 3-0 on the season, allowing eight hits and two
runs in 5.1 innings of work. Relievers Chris Highmark, Jordan
Muir and Josh Barrett wrapped up the afternoon for the Cougars,
combining to allow three runs on four hits in 3.2 innings
of work. UCR starter Hailey Winter fell to 1-2, allowing four
runs and five hits in four innings of work.
The Highlanders got on the
board first as Jeff Abney and Drew Garcia smacked back-to-back
doubles in the bottom of the second to give UCR a 1-0 lead.
But BYU came back in the top of the third on an RBI groundout
by Kent Walton that scored Casey Nelson.
BYU added two runs in the
fourth on an RBI single by Adrian Molina and an RBI groundout
by Nelson and a single run in the fifth on a single by Kent
Walton that scored Austin Carter. UCR answered with a single
run in the bottom of the fourth as Jaime Pedroza drove in
Kyle Barratt, who led off the inning with a single.
The Cougars scored three
times in the top of the seventh to take a 7-2 lead on RBI
singles by Jeff Hiestand and Ben Saylor. A third run came
in when Hiestand stole second and Marcos Villezcas came home
on a throwing error by UCR catcher Jeff Abney.
UCR answered back with a
single run in the seventh when Brian Steinmeyer doubled, went
to third on a bunt single by Aaron Grant and came home on
a fielder's choice by Barratt.
The game was delayed for
25 minutes in the top of the eighth inning by lightning.
UCR scored twice in the
bottom of the eighth as Abney walked and Garcia launched his
first home run of the season to cut the score to 7-5.
The Cougars answered back
with two runs in the top of the ninth as Villezcas reached
on single and went to second on a one out single by Saylor.
Molina then slapped a ready-made double play ground ball to
second, but Garcia double-clutched the flip to second and
threw it past shortstop Jaime Pedroza, allowing a run to score.
Crosby then slapped a sacrifice fly to push the lead back
to four at 9-5.
Garcia led the Highlanders
at 3-for-3 with three RBI. Steinmeyer and Grant each had two
hits. Saylor led BYU with three hits.
(March
15, 2006) - Junior 1B Nick Salotti went 4-for-4 to help UC
Riverside to a 6-3 victory over Keio University of Japan in
an international exhibition held Wednesday afternoon at the
Riverside Sports Complex.
After
4 1/2 scoreless innings, the Highlanders got all their runs
in the bottom of the sixth inning. Freshman OF Carl Uhl tripled
to open the inning and scored two batters later when sophomore
SS Jaime Pedroza laid down a squeeze bunt. Senior pinch-hitter
Jeff Abney followed with a double that scored Pedroza and
sophomore INF Aaron Wible singled him over to third. Salotti
then followed with his second of two doubles on the day, driving
in Abney. Senior OF Andy Clay walked to load the bases and
senior DH Andrew Martinez doubled home two runs to make it
5-0. That ended Keio starter Mikinori Kato’s day. Sophomore
2B Drew Garcia knocked in the last run with a sacrifice fly.
Keio
responded with two runs in the top of the sixth off freshman
RHP Matt Montgomery, the Highlanders’ third pitcher
of the day. With one out, the visitors put together three
consecutive singles, the last by Yoshihiro Okazaki that scored
two runs.
Keio
added one more run in the eighth on a wild pitch by freshman
RHP Stephen Penney.
In
addition to Salotti’s four-hit day, Clay also added
two hits for UCR. The Highlanders used six pitchers in the
game, combining to strike out 14 Keio hitters. Freshman RHP
D.J. Smith picked up the victory by allowing two hits and
no runs in two innings of work.
Kato
went 4 1/3 innings, allowing six runs on 10 hits. He also
struck out eight. Kosuke Aizawa and Kohei Yukinaga finished
it off by allowing one hit over the final 3 2/3 innings. Kohei
Watanabe and Keita Otomo each went 2-for-4.
(March
25, 2006) - UC Riverside jumped on top early and withstood
a late rally, beating visiting Loyola Marymount University
10-7 Saturday night at the Riverside Sports Complex. The Highlanders
showed no ill effects of a 10-day layoff, improving to 12-9
and dropping the Lions to 11-17 on the season.
The
Highlanders scored eight runs in the first two innings, all
with two outs. In the first inning, junior DH Nick Salotti
put two runs on the board with a bases-loaded single through
the left side. Junior 1B Kyle Barratt followed with his second
home run of the season, a three-run shot that just cleared
the fence in right-center field. UCR tacked on three more
runs in the second, all unearned, when sophomore C Jeff Dunbar
delivered a bases loaded double to left.
The
Lions got to UCR sophomore starter James Simmons (5-1) in
the third with three runs, only one of which was earned. A.J.
LaMonda provided two of the runs on a double then added a
run in the fifth with a solo homer.
LMU
put across another run in the sixth thanks to UCR miscues.
Eric Farris singled with one out and went to second on a failed
pickoff attempt as Dunbar threw the ball into rightfield.
Farris then went to third on a groundout and surprised Simmons
by stealing home to make it 8-5.
UCR
tacked on a run in the sixth to knock out LMU starter Andy
Beal (2-5). With one out, junior LF D.J. Hollingsworth tripled
to right. Junior CF Brett Bigler followed with a double to
right to end Beal’s day.
The
Lions weren’t done with their comeback, however, scoring
two runs in the eighth to make it 9-7. Erik Johnson led off
with a single, advancing to third when UCR sophomore 2B Drew
Garcia misplayed a grounder off the bat of Brian Wilson. Johnson
then scored on a sacrifice fly by Eric Farris. Two batters
later, Nik Garcia flared a hit over first base to plate pinch
runner Anthony Soto. That marked the end of the day for Simmons
as sophomore LHP Dan Runzler came on with two outs and the
tying run at the plate but struck out Casey Gordon to end
the threat.
UCR
pushed its advantage back to three runs in the bottom of the
eighth, loading the bases before senior 3B Brian Steinmeyer
hit a sacrifice fly. Senior RF Aaron Grant thought he had
driven in two more runs on the next at bat but Gordon made
a diving stop to end the inning.
Junior
RHP Daniel Stange picked up his team-leading sixth save but
not before making it interesting, walking and hitting the
first two LMU batters in the ninth. But he got Chris Pettit
to fly out to center and struck out Johnson and pinch-hitter
Elvis Herrera to end the game.
Simmons
gave up seven runs on the night but only two were earned.
He allowed a season-high 10 hits in 7 2/3 innings and registered
a season low of just one strikeout.
Beal
allowed nine runs (six earned) on eight hits. He struck out
six but walked five in 5 1/3 innings.
Bigler
finished the game 4-for-4 with three stolen bases while Dunbar
went 1-for-1 with three RBI and three walks. Barratt also
drove in three runs.
(March
26, 2006) - UC Riverside swept a Sunday doubleheader 3-1 and
9-2 over Loyola Marymount University at the Riverside Sports
Complex. The Highlanders swept the weekend series to improve
to 14-9 and dropping the Lions to 11-19 on the season.
UCR
took the first game behind a solid outing from senior RHP
Haley Winter (2-2). Winter turned in his longest appearance
of the season, scattering nine hits over 7 1/3 innings and
allowing just one run. He also struck out six and did not
allow a walk.
The
Highlanders took advantage of small ball and an LMU error
to take a 1-0 lead in the fourth. Senior RF Aaron Grant led
off with a single, advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt
and to third on an error. With two outs, he scored as LMU
third baseman Nik Garcia let a grounder through his legs.
UCR
extended its lead to 3-0 with a pair of runs in the sixth.
Sophomore DH Aaron Wible doubled in a run and senior 1B Nick
Salotti followed with an RBI single. The Lions got a run back
in the top of the seventh on an RBI groundout by Justin Bunkis.
Sophomore LHP Dan Runzler closed out the game for his first
career save, allowing one hit over the final 1 2/3 innings.
Wible
and senior 3B Brian Steinmeyer each had two of the Highlanders’
seven hits.
Daniel Macias (2-6) took the loss for LMU, allowing three
runs (two earned) on six hits and walking three in 7 1/3 innings.
In
game two, the Lions jumped out to an early 2-0 lead as Erik
Johnson hit a two-run single. LMU got the first two runners
on in the second but that would be it as UCR junior starter
Taylor Bills calmed down. Bills allowed just two hits over
the next five innings as the Highlanders took control on offense.
UCR
went ahead 3-2 with three runs on two outs in the bottom of
the second. With two on, sophomore 2B Drew Garcia singled
in the first run. Sophomore SS Jaime Pedroza followed with
an RBI single before LMU starter Nathan Keadle walked the
next two batters to force in the third run.
The
Highlanders tacked on a run in each of the third and fourth
innings to go ahead 5-2. Wible and junior CF Brett Bigler
had RBI singles in each. UCR then blew it open in the sixth
when junior LF D.J. Hollingsworth hit a two-run homer to right.
It was Hollingsworth’s second career home run.
UCR
added two runs in the eighth for the final tally.
Bills
improved to 2-1, spreading out seven hits over seven innings.
He allowed the two runs and struck out four.
Keadle
fell to 0-1, giving up four runs on six hits in three innings.
Pedroza
went 3-for-4 with three runs scored while Hollingsworth and
Bigler each had two hits and two RBI apiece. Grant and Wible
also each contributed two hits.
(March
31, 2006) -UC Riverside won its fourth straight game, taking
the series opener 3-2 against visiting UC Davis in a non-conference
game Friday night at the Riverside Sports Complex. The Highlanders
improve to 15-9 while the Aggies fall to 10-13.
UCR
got on the board first, going ahead 1-0 in the third when
UC Davis shortstop Matt Dempsey threw away a grounder by senior
RF Aaron Grant that scored junior CF Brett Bigler from second.
The Aggies struck back in the top of the fourth on Lukas Kirby's
solo home run.
The
Highlanders regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth
off reliever Paul Gonzales (0-1). Junior 1B Nick Salotti singled
and went to third on sophomore 2B Drew Garcia's double to
right. Salotti then came home as sophomore SS Jaime Pedroza
laid down a safety squeeze bunt. UCR made it 3-1 in the seventh
when Grant singled through a drawn-in infield to plate Bigler.
Sophomore
RHP James Simmons had another fine outing, throwing seven
innings for the seventh time in eight starts to improve to
6-1. Simmons allowed three hits and two runs, walking two
and striking out five.
Sophomore
LHP Dan Runzler came on in the eighth, allowing a run-scoring
double to Daniel Descalso. With
the tying run on third, Runzler struck out Evan Hudson on
a check swing to preserve UCR's lead. UCR had an opportunity
to increase its lead in the eighth but pinch-runner Carl Uhl
was thrown out at home for the first out and Bigler grounded
into a double play with the bases loaded to end the inning.
Junior
RHP Daniel Stange pitched a perfect ninth for his seventh
save. Bigler finished the game 2-for-3 with two walks and
three stolen bases while Salotti went 3-for-4.
Gonzales
pitched four innings in the loss, allowing two runs on five
hits. Michael Potter made the start for UC Davis, allowing
one unearned run on three hits in three innings.
2005-06
Baseball Archives
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