Highlanders Drop Close Battle with Fullerton

Saturday, March 26

Fullerton, Calif.

6:00 p.m.

UC Riverside

1-19, 0

Cal State Fullerton

7-14, 0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
UC Riverside	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	6	0
Cal State Fullerton	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	X	2	5	1

Photo by: Dwain Linden

Highlanders Drop Close Battle with Fullerton

3/26/2022 8:58:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

FULLERTON, Calif. – Jeremiah Priddy made his first start on the mound for the Highlanders this year, but late run production from Cal State Fullerton saw UC Riverside drop a spirited 2-1 second game at Goodwin Field on Saturday night.

Priddy went four innings with a strikeout in his third appearance of 2022 for UCR, retiring 10 of his first 13 batters faced.

The Highlanders came out with their second consecutive 1-0 lead over Fullerton, thanks to a Cole Pofek sacrifice bunt back to the pitcher in the fourth inning. Joey Nicolai singled to right to lead off the inning, then wheeled his way to third on a routine single from Anthony Mata.

With runners in scoring position, Pofek did his job with a sacrifice bunt back to the mound to bring Nicolai home.

The Titans countered in the bottom of the fifth on a leadoff double that turned into the tying run after a steal of third. Fullerton went ahead in the sixth with a second leadoff extra-base hit, a triple to left center off Sergio Ramirez.

Pofek led off the top of the ninth with a five-pitch walk before Andrew Rivas to put two on with one out, but a double play sealed the second game for Fullerton.

In the third and final game of the series, an early first inning Highlander run couldn't protect against an explosive Titan offense and UCR had to battle back from a double digit deficit after the first inning.

UC Riverside was stifled by Cal State Fullerton 16-6 in the series closer.

The Highlanders return to action on Tuesday, March 29 with a 6:00 PM game at home against LMU.