University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
UC Riverside
Highlanders Beat UCLA in Season Opener
January 27, 2001 | Baseball
Jan. 27, 2001
LOS ANGELES-The UC Riverside Highlanders used a four-run seventh and a two run eighth to defeat the visiting UCLA Bruins, 10-6, at the Riverside Sports Complex Saturday. The game was the season opener for both teams.
The Bruins had opened up a 6-4 lead in their half of the sixth on a triple by Adam Berry, a double by Josh Canales and a sacrifice fly by Ryan Rasmussen. However, the Highlanders responded in kind in the bottom of the inning off of reliever Kevin Jerkens. With one out, Randy Blood doubled and Jimmy Anderson followed with a RBI single to right. Adam Seuss singled up the middle, sending Anderson to second and Jerkens (0-1) to the showers in favor of reliever Bobby Roe. Roe gave up RBI singles to Brandon Smith and Matt Teahen, then threw away a pickoff attempt that allowed Seuss to come home with the fourth run of the inning.
The Highlanders further battered Roe in the eighth, as he walked Jaymie Torres, who went to second on a wild pitch. Pinch hitter Tim Faulkner singled to left to score Torres, and a few moments later, Anderson lofted a sacrifice fly to score Faulkner with the 10th run.
Chris Smith (1-0) got the win for the Highlanders, throwing three innings of five hit relief. He allowed two earned runs and struck out two.
Left hander George Caralejo got the start for the Highlanders, throwing three innings of two-hit shutout ball. Julio Fernandez pitched the middle frames, allowing seven hits and four runs.
For the Bruins, starter Josh Karp opened the game and pitched two innings, allowing two hits. UCLA's regular Saturday starter Jon Brandt threw four innings, allowing seven hits and three earned runs.
Smith had a big day in his Highlander debut, going 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBI. The transfer from Kansas opened the scoring for the Highlanders in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI double that scored Blood. Following an intentional walk to Teahen, Rich Hofman blooped a single to right that scored two and gave the Highlanders the lead.
The crowd for the Homecoming day opener was 1775, believed to be the largest since the RBI Tournaments in the 1970's and 80's. The threat of rain held the crowd down from what could have been a stand room only event.
The Bruins travel to Hawaii next week for a three game series with the Rainbow Warriors starting on Thursday.
