ART U Tops Holy Names 9-2 to Open the Series

OAKLAND, Calif. – Playing in their first home game in over two weeks, Academy of Art looked to make a big statement in the series opener against Holy Names. They did just that, scoring in each of the first five innings en route to a 9-2 win over the Hawks.

Making his seventh start of the season, junior right-hander Angel Mora (4-0) was off to a quick start in the first inning, recording the first two outs in just five pitches. However, it only took four more pitches for HNU to plate their first run, coming off of a double and a single.

Trailing 1-0 as they came up to-bat for the first time in the game, the Urban Knights responded right away, loading the bases with just one out. Senior catcher Marciano Reichel worked things to a 3-2 count and then delivered ART U's first run of the game when he sent a sacrifice fly to center field. On the play, junior infielder Josh Carlin came in to score which sent senior infielder Brennan Mauchline to plate. Mauchline reached on a fielder's choice as the shortstop who fielded his ground ball decided to throw to third in an attempt to catch senior outfielder Jackson Murphy with the forceout. However, an error allowed everyone to reach safely, allowing senior outfielder Izac Bauer to receive an at-bat. The seventh ART U batter of the frame reached on the second Hawks error of the inning, allowing Murphy to score, and giving the Urban Knights a 2-1 lead.

Academy of Art never looked back after that, scoring two more runs in the second off of four hits and runs batted in from Reichel and senior outfielder Evan Ray. Then, after junior infielder Elijah Smith posted an RBI in the third, the Knights plated two more in both the fourth and fifth. The highlight of the fifth inning was a career-first home run by junior infielder Josh Carlin. Carlin sent the first pitch he saw over the right field fence, scoring junior outfielder Taj Dawson who had previously reached on a 6-pitch walk.

The lone run that Holy Names managed to respond with came in the third inning when two walks, an error, and a fielder's choice allowed the Hawks' Colton Combs to score (unearned).

Mora received the win and was effective through his 5.0 innings of work, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits, two strikeouts, and four walks. Three other ART U pitchers combined to finish the remaining four innings and together, they allowed no runs, one walk, and just two hits while striking out a pair of HNU batters.

On the offensive-end, eight of the nine starters recorded one or more hits. Combined, ART U's 2-4 batters in the lineup did the most damage, batting .545 (6-for-11), while scoring six runs, collecting four RBI, and leaving just one runner on-base. Murphy reached base a total of four times in the contest, recording two walks and two singles.

No. 15 UCLA Drops Series Opener at Cal, 5-2

Recap, photo courtesy of UCLA

BERKELEY, Calif. – Chase Strumpf hit a solo home run, while Ryan Kreidler drove in a run as the No. 15 UCLA baseball team dropped the series opener at California, 5-2, on Thursday evening from Evans Diamond. Jake Pries and Jack Stronach both went 2-for-4 for the Bruins at the plate.

Cal's Matt Ladrech earned the win allowing two runs on six hits in 6.0 innings, while Tanner Dodson collected his fifth save of the season tossing the final two innings without allowing a run. UCLA's Jake Bird suffered the loss allowing five runs, two earned, on 14 hits with five strikeouts.

California got on the board first in the bottom of the third inning as Jonah Davis chopped a two-out infield single to the shortstop to plate Andrew Vaughn from third base.

The Golden Bears made the score 5-0 in the fourth inning with a four-run frame as Cameron Eden and Vaughn each hit RBI-singles, followed by a two-out, two-run single up the middle by Davis.

UCLA got one run back in the top of the fifth inning as Garrett Mitchell dropped a bunt single down the third-base line and came around to score when Kreidler ripped a two-out double down the left-field line.

The Bruins added one run in the seventh inning when Strumpf blasted a solo home run to lead off the frame. UCLA looked to add more runs in the frame as Stronach and Pries laid down back-to-back bunt singles, but reliever Zayne Patino was able to retire the next three batters to keep it a three-run game.

UCLA (15-6, 5-2) finished the game with two runs on eight hits and one error, while California (15-9, 2-5) ended the game with five runs on 14 hits and no errors.

The second game of this three-game Pac-12 series will take place on Friday (today) at 6 p.m. PT at Evans Diamond.

Game Notes: Chase Strumpf grabbed the team lead with his fifth home run of the season … Ryan Kreidler hit his sixth double of the season and drove in his 12th RBI of the season … Jake Pries and Jack Stronach each tallied their fourth multi-hit game of the season … UCLA is now 2-1 on the road this season … Jake Bird threw 7.0 innings for the third time this season … Bird allowed a career-high 14 hits … Nick Scheidler made his team-high 15th appearance on the mound.

UCR Shatters Division I Conference-Opener Records, Tops UC Davis 16-10

Riverside, Calif. – Facing UC Davis (6-14, 0-1) on Thursday night, UC Riverside (11-10, 1-0) reached offensive heights it has never seen before in a Big West opener, setting new season-highs in hits and runs to defeat the Aggies, 16-10.

Sophomore Connor Cannon was a problem for the visitors, reaching career-highs in both RBI (5) and hits (3). Cannon becomes the first Highlander in nearly eight years to record multiple 5-RBI games in the same season, reaching the mark for the first time since UCR's first game of 2018.

The last Highlander to accomplish that feat was Tony Nix, who in 2010 put up three 5-RBI outings.

The Highlanders tacked on 20 hits, registering the program's first 20-hit game in more than three years and the 22nd in its Division I era (2002-pres). They also shattered their previous all-time highs for runs (7 vs. UCSB in 2007), hits (15 vs. Cal Poly in 2003) and RBI (8, twice) in a conference season-opener since joining the Big West in 2002.

While UC Davis jumped out of the gates for three runs in three innings, UC Riverside was held

Big Blasts, Crooked Numbers as UC San Diego Punishes Pioneers in Series Opener, 25-2

Photo by: Andy Wilhelm

Junior first baseman Tyler Durna has three home runs, eight runs and 10 RBI in three games over four days

LA JOLLA, Calif. - The University of California San Diego baseball team celebrated its first home contest since March 2 in a big, big way, punishing Cal State East Bay to the tune of 25-2 in the opener of a four-game California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) series at Triton Ballpark on Thursday night.

With the victory, UC San Diego improved to 17-9 overall and 13-8 in the CCAA. Cal State East Bay fell to 13-14 overall and 10-11 in league play. The Tritons remain in a two-way tie for third in the conference standings, as the top four teams all won on Thursday. Cal State Monterey Bay and Cal State LA are still one game up at 14-7 each.

UC San Diego produced two grand slams among a season-high six home runs on the night, to get to its season-best run total. The Tritons had 16 hits in the game. They put together six innings of three or more runs, failing to score in only the third and seventh. The eight-run sixth was UCSD's most lucrative frame of 2018.

That sixth included back-to-back-to-back home runs, all of the tape-measure variety, by junior

Series' 79 Runs Grants Hope Win over Warriors

Jessup battled in record-setting series against Hope International

LINCOLN, Calif. - After a nearly four hour game and 36 runs against Hope International Wednesday night in the opening game of the series, the Warriors and Royals returned to McBean Park Thursday for a doubleheader that tallied 43 total runs over the two games. The Royals took the first conference series of the season from the Warriors with an 18-10 win in game one and an extra-inning edge 8-7 in game two.

The Warriors hit the board first in game one on the first pitch as Kawai Takemura sent a long ball over the leftfield wall. With bases loaded Noah Shackles would hit a 2-RBI single to make it 3-0 and Joe Starick would close the inning with a 3-run homer for the 6-0 advantage.

The Royals would match those runs in the fourth inning with a home run and a single to tie it up 6-6 at the midway point. However, Jessup didn't take long to regain the lead as Will Law hit his first home run of the day for the one-run lead.

The following frame would bring the first and final lead for the Royals with five hits and an error by the Warriors to push another five runs across, now up 11-7. Hope would push it to 18-7 in the seventh inning before Jessup would try for a late comeback.

Outfielder Joey Torres would bring one run in on a sac fly in the bottom of the seventh, and back-to-back home runs for Law, his second, and Alex Nasukiewicz would make it 18-10 but a scoreless ninth inning would make it final.

Game two would resemble follow the leader as every inning both teams would one-up each other either matching or taking the lead all the way until the final extra inning. Jessup would light up the scoreboard in the opening frame again this time from perfect hitter (4-for-4), Cal Koga brought in Austen Swift who walked for the 1-0 lead. The Royals matched the run in the top of the following inning to tie it up.

It would be Koga again in the third with the RBI single bringing in Swift to take the 2-1 short lead before Hope's two runs in the top of the fourth, now up 3-2. Again, the Warriors would answer the call and tie it up in the following frame as Swift reached on an error with two on and Takemura came in to score (3-3).

None other than Koga would be the driving force for another lead on the day with a home run to start the bottom of the fifth, followed by Nasukiewicz bringing in Shackles to take the 5-3 lead. Hope would match that and then some with a home run to start their rally to a 7-5 advantage.

Again, the Warriors would tie it up in the bottom of the inning as, you guessed it, Koga brought in Swift and Law with a single up the middle for his 5th RBI of the game. A quick one-two-three in both innings of the seventh would push it to extra innings with the Warriors and Royals locked at 7.

A double and a single would be enough for the Royals in the top of the eighth to push the winning run across as Jessup was unable to answer back in the bottom half, losing 8-7.

"Kudos to Hope and their players," head coach Jake McKinley commented, "They did a great job all weekend and outplayed us. I'm very confident in our players and their ability to bounce back next week."

’Cats bang out a dozen hits but drop series opener at LA

By Luke Reid - Sports Information Director (lreid@csuchico.edu)
LOS ANGELES—The Chico State baseball team is in the midst of a rough stretch. But Dave Taylor coached teams never stop fighting. He sure would like it if they stopped being one of their own worst enemies.

The Wildcats committed four errors Friday, continuing a recent trend of defensive miscues, in falling 9-5 in the opening game of a four-game series at Cal State LA.

Chico State out-hit Cal State LA 12-11 and scored in each of the final four innings, but could not climb back after allowing three unearned runs in the first six innings. Dustin Miller led the way with three hits, while Kyle Blakeman, Cameron Santos, and Louie Canjura collected two hits apiece. Blakeman doubled and tripled and scored one run and drove in another. Santos doubled, scored twice, and drove in a run.

Chico State fell to 16-13 overall and 12-11 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Cal State LA is now 17-9 overall and 14-7 in the CCAA.

Wildcats starter Casey Costello allowed five runs (four earned) in five-and-a-third innings to absorb just the second loss of his Chico State career. He fell to 3-2.

Three of those hits came in the first inning as the Golden Eagles jumped out to a 1-0 lead. It could have been more, but Brian Pozos threw out a runner at home from left field to end the inning.

The Golden Eagles tacked on another run with a leadoff homer in the second. Costello settled in from there and did not allow another hit until the sixth. However, Cal State LA upped its lead to 3-0 in the fourth thanks to an error and sacrifice fly.

The Wildcats fought back in the sixth. Blakeman led off with a triple and scored on a Santos single. He eventually scored on Miller's base hit to make it 3-2.

The Golden Eagles put together the decisive rally in the bottom half of the inning, bashing a two-run homer and then scoring two unearned runs with the help of a Wildcats error.

Chico State tried to chip away, getting a run in the seventh on Blakeman's RBI-grounder, a run in the eighth after Miller singled and eventually scored on an error, and a run in the ninth on Alex DeVito's RBI single. But the crooked number evaded the Wildcats, and Cal State LA tacked on two insurance runs in the eighth.

UCSB Upsets No. 49 Washington to Tally First Road Win of the Season

SEATTLE, Wash. - Sixth times the charm. At least, that's all the UC Santa Barbara can think, and be thankful for, following a win against No. 49 ranked Washington to give the 'Chos their first road win of the season. With the win, UCSB (9-6) improves to 1-5 on the road and picks up its first win against a ranked opponent this season.

"It feels great to celebrate a road win, I really feel like we needed it. This is our biggest win of the year so far." Head Coach Marty Davis said. "It was a really close match as the score would indicate and we have to tip our cap to Joey [Rotheram] who clinched the match at No. 6."

For Washington (10-8), it now falls to 8-8 at home and suffers just its third loss to a non-ranked opponent this season.

Jumping out to a quick 3-0 lead in the match, the Gauchos looked as though they would seal the deal early, but a late rally by the Huskies certainly made things interesting. The match was decided by redshirt freshman Joseph Rotheram who stepped up big time delivering UCSB its first road win after earning a big final victory at the No. 6 spot.

"That was a statement win for him today. There is a lot of stress that comes with being in that last match and clinching so it was an impressive win," Davis said. "It will still be competitive at the No. 6 spot but it was a huge win today."

The match began as all college tennis does, with doubles. At No. 1 doubles, the UCSB duo, juniors Nicolas Moreno de Alboran and Anders Holm, led from the start and never looked back, winning 6-1. At the No. 2 court, senior Simon Freund and Rotheram bounced back from a 3-1 deficit to win five straight points and take the match 6-3 giving the Gauchos the 1-0 lead.

In singles, Santa Barbara picked up two straight-set wins on courts two and three to take the 3-0 advantage.

Making his first appearance on the No. 2 court this season, Moreno de Alboran certainly did not have an easy match. The No. 94 ranked New York native took on the No. 82 ranked player in the country, Jake Douglas. The junior won the match 6-3, 7-6 (4) to improve to 8-5 on the year. 

On court three, senior captain Freund bounced back from a nasty 6-0, 6-0 loss versus Oregon to defeat Washington's Enzo Summer 6-3, 6-3.

Washington's Jack Davis began the Huskies rally from a 3-0 deficit with a win against Victor Krustev 7-5, 6-3.

UW would cut the deficit to just a one-point lead following a win on court one.

With Moreno de Alboran being bumped a spot down to court two, sophomore transfer standout Joseph Guillin made his second appearance at the top court and put his 12-game winning streak on the line.

Guillin played his heart out, taking the match to three sets, but would ultimately lose against Washington's No. 80th ranked Mitch Stewart 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. The loss was only the former Florida Gator's second loss of the year as he is now 13-2 on the year.

With the match being tied, all eyes moved to Rotheram's match at the No. 6 court. Rotheram took the first set 6-4 before losing the second 3-6. By the time Guillin's match was over, Rotheram had the advantage in the third and won the set 6-3 to seal the win for the 'Chos.

The match ended with Washington earning a win on court four over Holm to make the final score 4-3.

Finally picking up its first road win of the year, UCSB can finally breathe a little easier especially considering the caliber of team it beat. Defeating a Pac-12 school is always impressive, and Santa Barbara did so in wonderful fashion.

"It is enjoyable to get wins against these schools with huge funding. It has a David vs Goliath feel to it so it's super gratifying to get these wins," Davis said. 

Now, the Gauchos can focus on keeping their home record perfect before heading into conference play.

UCSB takes on the University of Denver at 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 1st at the Rec Cen Courts.

RESULTS
#49 Washington – 3
UC Santa Barbara – 4

Doubles (Order of finish: 1, 2)
1) Moreno/Holm (UCSB) def. Lam/Sommer (UW) 6-1
2) Freund/Rotherom (UCSB) def. Foley/Stewart (UW) 6-3
3) Davis/Douglas (UW) vs. Guillin/Krustev (UCSB) 5-5 DNF

Singles (Order of finish: 3, 2, 5, 1, 6, 4)
1) #80 Mitch Stewart (UW) def. Joseph Guillin (UCSB) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3
2) #94 Nicolas Moreno (UCSB) def. #82 Jake Douglas (UW) 6-3, 7-6(4)
3) Simon Freund (UCSB) def. Enzo Sommer (UW) 6-3, 6-3
4) Amit Batta (UW) def. Anders Holm (UCSB) 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-1
5) Jack Davis (UW) def. Victor Krustev (UCSB) 7-5, 6-3
6) Joseph Rotherom (UCSB) def. Piers Foley (UW) 6-4, 3-6, 6-2