Riverside—The UC Riverside Baseball Team dropped game one of its double header with Washington Saturday, 17-4, but bounced back in the night cap as Drake Zarate drove in Thomas Walker from third with a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 12th.
The Highlanders looked like they might drop their third straight to the visiting Huskies as they fell behind 5-1 after three innings of play in game two. Starter Ricky Delgado gave up all five runs, but only two were earned as UC Riverside committed errors in the first and third that led to a trio of Washington scores.
Delgado and his teammates settled down after the third, however, as the right hander allowed just two hits over his next five innings of work.
The Highlanders scored single runs in the second and fourth, and tied the game in the bottom of the fifth sending eight men to the plate. Aaron Cisneros plated UCR's third run with a sac fly that scored Steven Mercado II, and Vince Fernandez delivered the game-tying blow with a two run homer off the scoreboard in right center that also drove in Zarate.
UC Riverside loaded the bases with just one out in the bottom of the ninth, but Huskies closer Troy Rallings struck out Mark Contreras and Thomas Walker to send the game into extra innings. The Highlanders threatened in the bottom of the 11th as well, putting runners at first and second with one out, but once again, Rallings struck out Vince Fernandez and Contreras to extend the game into the 12th.
Washington had its best opportunity to break the tie in the top half of the 12th. Ryan Lillie came on in relief and allowed a single to Kyle London, wild pitching him to second. Jack Meggs then hit a grounder to third, and London strayed too far from the bag, getting thrown out in a run down. Meggs advanced to second on the play, and Lillie issued back-to-back walks to load the bases. He was able to punch out MJ Hubbs looking and get Chris Baker to line out to third to keep the game tied at five.
Rallings gave way to Westin Wuethrich to start the Highlanders half of the 12th, and Wuehtrich gave up a lead off single to Walker. After Yeager Taylor's ground out to first advanced Walker 90 feet, Michael Farris struck out swinging. A wild pitch sent Walker to third, and Wuehtrich issued walks to Colby Schultz and Casey Worden. After going up 0-2 on Zarate, Wuethrich reached back for the pay off pitch, but Zarate ripped it into right center over the heads of the Huskies outfielders scoring Walker. That sent the Highlanders streaking onto the field in celebration of the 6-5 victory.
Lillie (1-0) picked up the win for the Highlanders, while Wuethrich was saddled with the loss (1-1). Delgado tossed 117 pitches through his eight innings for UC Riverside scattering 10 hits and walking one while striking out five.
UC Riverside and Washington conclude their four-game series with an 11 m PT first pitch at the Plex on Sunday, February 28.
GAME ONEThe Highlanders fell into a hole early and never recovered as the Huskies touched starter Angel Landazuri (1-1) for five runs in the top of the first and five more in the top of the second.
Max Compton pitched five innings of relief for UC Riverside (2-4) allowing four hits and two earned runs, while Devin Mckesson and Jason Montville each tossed an inning.
Joe DeMers (1-0) got the win for the Huskies going six innings scattering eight hits and giving up four earned runs. Alex Hardy picked up the save with three innings of scoreless relief.
Washington banged out 18 hits in the game led by Josh Cushing and John Naff with three apiece. Naff scored four runs, and Cushing drove in four.
