BASEBALL STUMBLES IN SERIES OPENER AT UC RIVERSIDE
3/9/2012
Shea Lukes was one of four relievers to throw scoreless innings on Friday.
RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The Sacramento State baseball team lost the first game of a three-game series at UC Riverside, 15-4, on Friday night at the Riverside Sports Complex.
The Hornets (5-8) scored four runs on 10 hits with no errors while the Highlanders (5-8) had 15 runs on 16 hits with one error.
UC Riverside jumped out early and never looked back on Friday night. The Highlanders racked up nine runs on seven hits and four walks against Sacramento State starting pitcher Hunter Greenwood (1-3), who was replaced after he faced five batters in the second.
UC Riverside then scored six more runs in the second, one in the third and three in the fourth. Freshman reliever Daniel Kopas, who made his collegiate debut for the Hornets on Friday, allowed six runs on eight hits in three innings with one walk and five strikeouts.
After UC Riverside did its damage in the early innings, Sacramento State's last four relievers (LHP Hunter Adrian, RHP Shea Lukes, RHP Brandon Creel and RHP Garrett Kraemer) allowed just one combined hit with two strikeouts.
The Hornets did not go quietly, however, as they scored one run in the third and three in the fifth. Senior Derrick Chung drew a walk and Rhys Hoskins continued his torrid pace with a double down the left field line. Will Soto smacked a sacrifice fly to center to score Chung and Brent Hottman doubled two at-bats later to bring home Hoskins. Andrew Ayers hit the third double of the inning to score Hottman before a ground out ended the inning.
More than half of the Hornets' 10 hits were doubles as they hit six against the Highlanders.
UC Riverside blasted one triple, six doubles and one home run en route to its most runs scored this season. UC Riverside starting pitcher Dylan Stuart earned the win after giving up four runs on eight hits in five innings.
