Tuesday, April 10
Riverside, CA
6:00 PM
UC Riverside
7
vs
8
Pepperdine
Bullpen Can't Hold Lead As UCR Baseball Falls 8-7 In 11 Innings
4/10/2012 8:52:00 PM | Baseball
Riverside—The UC Riverside Baseball Team headed into the ninth inning Tuesday evening hoping to accomplish something that had eluded it all season long—wrapping up a come-from-behind victory. Unfortunately, the bullpen couldn't hold the 4-2 lead and visiting Pepperdine picked up an 8-7 win in 11 innings.
Trailing 2-1 after six, Kevin Davidson laced a two-out double to right center scoring Nick Vilter from first tying the game at two. The following inning it was Eddie Young doubling to right center scoring AJ Beckley, and Vince Gonzalez lifting a sac fly to center which scored Young to give the Highlanders a 4-2 lead heading into the top of the ninth.
Head Coach Doug Smith brought Trevor Frank in from the bullpen to close out the game, but after Matt Forgatch popped up to second, Frank allowed four consecutive singles to tie the score at four. That put runners at second and third with just one out, and Sam Meyer lifted a sacrifice fly to center for what looked to be the go-ahead run. The Highlanders appealed, however, and Austin Davidson was called out for leaving third too early preserving the tie game.
UC Riverside put two runners on in the bottom of the ninth, but was unable to score.
Donovan Gonzales got the call from the pen to start the tenth inning, but he was greeted with a single, a walk and a sacrifice bunt that put runners on second and third with just one out. Antonio Gonzalez came on in relief, but he didn't fare any better giving up a double to Forgatch that put the Waves up by two, 6-4. After a Geralich ground out, Vincej ripped a single up the middle making it 7-4 Pepperdine.
But the Highlanders weren't through. Eddie Young and Phil Holinsworth drew walks off of Waves reliever Aaron Brown to start the bottom of the tenth, bringing Pepperdine's Head Coach out of the dugout to make a pitching change. Andrew Alvares only lasted one batter, however, as he walked Gonzalez to load the bases. Brian McIlhenny came in and promptly gave up a single to David Andriese that scored Young. Then it was Michael Swanner's (2-2) turn to take the hill for Pepperdine, and he was able to get Jake Gallaway to hit into a double play that scored Holinsworth. But Nick Vilters infield single scored pinch runner Cody Stewart to knot the game at seven.
The game didn't stay tied for long, however, as Joe Sever drilled a first-pitch homer to left field putting the Waves back on top. Antonio Gonzales (1-0) retired the next three batters in order to keep the deficit at one.
UC Riverside tried to mount one more rally as Drake Zarate began the inning with a single to right. AJ Beckley sacrificed him to second, and Eddie Young's ground out to short moved the tying run 90 feet from home. But Holinsworth's tap back to pitcher ended the game, as Pepperdine held on for the 8-7 win.
Mitch Patito got the start for the Highlanders going five innings and allowing five hits while striking out five. He gave up one run in the top of the second thanks to some timely two-out hitting. After Miles Silverstein walked and stole second, Tony Cooper singled to left to give the Waves a 1-0 lead.
The Highlanders got that run back in the bottom of the third thanks to the fortuitous placement of a discarded bat. Bart Steponovich found himself at third base with one out, and Holinsworth lifted a fly ball to shallow right field, which was not deep enough to score Steponovich. But Cooper's throw to the plate caromed off of Holinsworth's bat which lay in foul territory bouncing far enough away to allow Steponovich to score.
Pepperdine retook the lead in the top of the sixth plating an unearned run off of UCR relief pitcher Mark Garcia.
The Highlanders remain at home this weekend with a three-game non-conference series against CSU Bakersfield. First pitch on Friday is slated for 6 pm PT
Trailing 2-1 after six, Kevin Davidson laced a two-out double to right center scoring Nick Vilter from first tying the game at two. The following inning it was Eddie Young doubling to right center scoring AJ Beckley, and Vince Gonzalez lifting a sac fly to center which scored Young to give the Highlanders a 4-2 lead heading into the top of the ninth.
Head Coach Doug Smith brought Trevor Frank in from the bullpen to close out the game, but after Matt Forgatch popped up to second, Frank allowed four consecutive singles to tie the score at four. That put runners at second and third with just one out, and Sam Meyer lifted a sacrifice fly to center for what looked to be the go-ahead run. The Highlanders appealed, however, and Austin Davidson was called out for leaving third too early preserving the tie game.
UC Riverside put two runners on in the bottom of the ninth, but was unable to score.
Donovan Gonzales got the call from the pen to start the tenth inning, but he was greeted with a single, a walk and a sacrifice bunt that put runners on second and third with just one out. Antonio Gonzalez came on in relief, but he didn't fare any better giving up a double to Forgatch that put the Waves up by two, 6-4. After a Geralich ground out, Vincej ripped a single up the middle making it 7-4 Pepperdine.
But the Highlanders weren't through. Eddie Young and Phil Holinsworth drew walks off of Waves reliever Aaron Brown to start the bottom of the tenth, bringing Pepperdine's Head Coach out of the dugout to make a pitching change. Andrew Alvares only lasted one batter, however, as he walked Gonzalez to load the bases. Brian McIlhenny came in and promptly gave up a single to David Andriese that scored Young. Then it was Michael Swanner's (2-2) turn to take the hill for Pepperdine, and he was able to get Jake Gallaway to hit into a double play that scored Holinsworth. But Nick Vilters infield single scored pinch runner Cody Stewart to knot the game at seven.
The game didn't stay tied for long, however, as Joe Sever drilled a first-pitch homer to left field putting the Waves back on top. Antonio Gonzales (1-0) retired the next three batters in order to keep the deficit at one.
UC Riverside tried to mount one more rally as Drake Zarate began the inning with a single to right. AJ Beckley sacrificed him to second, and Eddie Young's ground out to short moved the tying run 90 feet from home. But Holinsworth's tap back to pitcher ended the game, as Pepperdine held on for the 8-7 win.
Mitch Patito got the start for the Highlanders going five innings and allowing five hits while striking out five. He gave up one run in the top of the second thanks to some timely two-out hitting. After Miles Silverstein walked and stole second, Tony Cooper singled to left to give the Waves a 1-0 lead.
The Highlanders got that run back in the bottom of the third thanks to the fortuitous placement of a discarded bat. Bart Steponovich found himself at third base with one out, and Holinsworth lifted a fly ball to shallow right field, which was not deep enough to score Steponovich. But Cooper's throw to the plate caromed off of Holinsworth's bat which lay in foul territory bouncing far enough away to allow Steponovich to score.
Pepperdine retook the lead in the top of the sixth plating an unearned run off of UCR relief pitcher Mark Garcia.
The Highlanders remain at home this weekend with a three-game non-conference series against CSU Bakersfield. First pitch on Friday is slated for 6 pm PT
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