Game 1
Nevada 12, UC Riverside 3
Friday, Feb. 16, 2024
Riverside, Calif. - Riverside Sports Complex
WP - Jason Doktorczyk (1-0)
LP - Julian Orozco (0-1)
RIVERSIDE, Calif. - Nevada Baseball had it working with the bats and on the mound in Friday night's 2024 opener, a 12-3 rout of UC Riverside.
Michael Ball led off what would be a six-run third inning with a solo shot to left, with
Nolan Wilson's two-run triple and
Justin Acal's three-run homer each coming with two outs to put Nevada in front for good, 6-1.
That was more than enough for winning pitcher
Jason Doktorczyk, who struck out eight and gave up just two runs on five hits over five and two-thirds innings of work.
Ball's homer brought Nevada (1-0) even after the Highlanders (0-1) worked a run across in its half of the first. UCR starter Julian Orozco downed the next two batters, before issuing walks to
Jesse Pierce and
JR Freethy. Wilson made Orozco pay, driving in the two runs with a triple to left-center. After another walk, this one to
Bryce Matthews,
Justin Acal ripped a homer to left, his first in a Nevada uniform, to wrap the six-run frame.
As Doktorczyk cruised, the Pack put the game out of reach with a five-run fifth. Matthews opened the scoring with a two-run, bases-loaded single, and, after Acal walked to reload the sacks, Ball drove in his second run of the game with a sacrifice fly to make it 9-1.
Tyson Heinz followed with a two-run double to center, plating Matthews and Acal to make it a 10-run game.
Wilson led the Wolf Pack with three hits on the night, while Matthews and Pierce each had two hits. Acal's three RBIs paced five Nevada batters with multi-RBI nights.
Matthew Canizares came on for Doktorczyk with two out in the sixth, and went 2.1 innings of one-run relief, giving up just two hits.
Kyle Becker wrapped things up with a scoreless ninth.
The teams return to action Saturday night, with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.
