Friday, April 6
Riverside, CA
6:00 PM
UC Riverside
4
vs
5
Long Beach State
Photo by: UCR Athletics Media Relations
Baseball's Comeback Falls Short In 5-4 Loss To Long Beach State
4/6/2012 6:59:00 PM | Baseball
Box Score - Long Beach State 5, UC Riverside 4
Riverside, CA - The UC Riverside baseball team scored a single run in the eighth to cut the lead to one, but could not complete the comeback falling by a final score of 5-4 to Long Beach State on Friday evening in game two of the Big West Conference series.
The Dirtbags (11-17, 3-2) got on board in the first inning, scoring a single run to take a 1-0 lead. With one out, Matt Duffy singled to right center, and advanced to second on an error by UCR's shortstop. Brennan Metzger then laced a single to right field, plating Duffy for the RBI.
The Highlanders (9-14, 2-3) scored the equalizer in the third, capitalizing on an error by 49ers first baseman. Nick Vilter was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame, and advanced to third after Bart Steponovich reached on the error. Jake Gallaway then hit a RBI ground out in the next at bat as Vilter came home with the tying run.
Metzger singled up the middle for LBSU to lead off the fourth, and advanced 90 feet on a sac bunt. Robert Vickers RBI single up the middle allowed Metzger to come around to score as the Dirtbags went up 2-1.
UC Riverside got that run back and more, scoring two in the bottom of the fourth to take a 3-2 advantage. Eddie Young led off by getting plunked by LBSU pitcher Ryan Strufing, and advanced to second on Vince Gonzalez's single to left field.
Both runners moved 90 feet on a wild pitch, and David Andriese's RBI single sent Young plateward. One out later, Vilter lifted a single to left field, sending Andriese home for the second run of the inning.
The Dirtbags responded to the Highlanders two-spot by scoring three runs in the top of the fifth, opening a 5-3 lead. UCR pitcher Eddie Orozco gave up consecutive singles to Jeff McNeil and Duffy, and Ino Patron's sac bunt moved the runners around.
Juan Avila then grounded out to the second baseman to score McNeil, and Metzger doubled down the left field line to send Duffy home for the 4-3 lead. Johnny Bekakis continued the hitting for LBSU, singling to right center and sending Metzger home for a 5-3 advantage.
The score stayed the same until the eighth, when UCR loaded the bases as Clayton Prestridge doubled, Phil Holinsworth was hit by a pitch, and Eddie Young reached safely on an infield single.
Vince Gonzalez then flied into centerfield, allowing Prestridge to score to cut the lead to 5-4. However, as Young was advancing to second, he was called out on an unconventional double play. The Highlanders stranded Holinsworth at third as Andriese fouled out to the catcher to end the inning.
UCR relief pitcher Mark Garcia retired the Dirtbags in order in the top of the ninth, but the Highlanders faired no different, going three-up, three-down the next half inning as Long Beach held on for the 5-4 victory.
Strufing earned the win for the 49ers, giving up five hits in seven innings. Orozco was saddled with the loss for UCR, giving up nine hits in five innings of work.
The rubber match between these teams is scheduled for Saturday at 2:00 pm at the Riverside Sports Complex.
Riverside, CA - The UC Riverside baseball team scored a single run in the eighth to cut the lead to one, but could not complete the comeback falling by a final score of 5-4 to Long Beach State on Friday evening in game two of the Big West Conference series.
The Dirtbags (11-17, 3-2) got on board in the first inning, scoring a single run to take a 1-0 lead. With one out, Matt Duffy singled to right center, and advanced to second on an error by UCR's shortstop. Brennan Metzger then laced a single to right field, plating Duffy for the RBI.
The Highlanders (9-14, 2-3) scored the equalizer in the third, capitalizing on an error by 49ers first baseman. Nick Vilter was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame, and advanced to third after Bart Steponovich reached on the error. Jake Gallaway then hit a RBI ground out in the next at bat as Vilter came home with the tying run.
Metzger singled up the middle for LBSU to lead off the fourth, and advanced 90 feet on a sac bunt. Robert Vickers RBI single up the middle allowed Metzger to come around to score as the Dirtbags went up 2-1.
UC Riverside got that run back and more, scoring two in the bottom of the fourth to take a 3-2 advantage. Eddie Young led off by getting plunked by LBSU pitcher Ryan Strufing, and advanced to second on Vince Gonzalez's single to left field.
Both runners moved 90 feet on a wild pitch, and David Andriese's RBI single sent Young plateward. One out later, Vilter lifted a single to left field, sending Andriese home for the second run of the inning.
The Dirtbags responded to the Highlanders two-spot by scoring three runs in the top of the fifth, opening a 5-3 lead. UCR pitcher Eddie Orozco gave up consecutive singles to Jeff McNeil and Duffy, and Ino Patron's sac bunt moved the runners around.
Juan Avila then grounded out to the second baseman to score McNeil, and Metzger doubled down the left field line to send Duffy home for the 4-3 lead. Johnny Bekakis continued the hitting for LBSU, singling to right center and sending Metzger home for a 5-3 advantage.
The score stayed the same until the eighth, when UCR loaded the bases as Clayton Prestridge doubled, Phil Holinsworth was hit by a pitch, and Eddie Young reached safely on an infield single.
Vince Gonzalez then flied into centerfield, allowing Prestridge to score to cut the lead to 5-4. However, as Young was advancing to second, he was called out on an unconventional double play. The Highlanders stranded Holinsworth at third as Andriese fouled out to the catcher to end the inning.
UCR relief pitcher Mark Garcia retired the Dirtbags in order in the top of the ninth, but the Highlanders faired no different, going three-up, three-down the next half inning as Long Beach held on for the 5-4 victory.
Strufing earned the win for the 49ers, giving up five hits in seven innings. Orozco was saddled with the loss for UCR, giving up nine hits in five innings of work.
The rubber match between these teams is scheduled for Saturday at 2:00 pm at the Riverside Sports Complex.
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