Feb. 19, 2011

Box Score

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - LMU (1-1) was shut out, 3-0, by UC Riverside (1-1) and right-hander Matt Larkins in the first game of a doubleheader being played at UCR's Riverside Sports Complex on Saturday afternoon. Larkins tossed eight scoreless innings and struck out 11 batters.

Junior Alex Gillingham was impressive as the Lion starter, allowing three runs with three strikeouts in a complete-game effort. The complete game was the first of Gillingham's career. LMU managed just five hits against Larkins, including two from Zac Fujimoto. Matt Lowenstein and Bret Dahlson each collected their first hits of 2011, with Dahlson's single in the eighth inning also coming as his first collegiate hit.

Ryan Goetz, Tony Nix and Dan Pellegrino all had two hits for UC Riverside, which finished with 11 as a team. Eddie Young, who hit out of the leadoff spot, joined Justin Shults and Pellegrino as the Highlanders with runs scored. Nix, David Andriese and AJ Beckley posted a RBI in the victory for UC Riverside, as Nix connected on a RBI-single in the first to give UCR the eventual winning run. Beckley contributed a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the fourth, but Gillingham was able to avoid further damage in the frame. The Highlanders managed an insurance run in the eighth when Shults doubled to set the table for a RBI-single from Andriese.

The Lions and Highlanders will continue the four-game series today with the second game of the doubleheader scheduled for around 2:30 pm.