Feb. 1, 2003

Junior Ryan Harvey hit a three-run home run and sophomore Kevin Mangels followed with a two-run shot to propel the Highlanders to a six-run second inning en route to a 14-6 triumph over the University of San Francisco Dons Saturday, at the UCR Baseball Complex.

Jason Collette singled with one out in the second and advanced to second on an error. Matt Cunningham then reached on another error, allowing Collette to score. Mangels followed with his towering home run to right field and UCR led 3-0.Brian Steinmeyer then reached on the Don's third error of the inning and Brian Wahlbrink followed with a single to center setting the table for Harvey's three-run bomb and a 6-0 Highlander lead.

USF (0-2) crept to within two at 6-4, scoring four runs off of two Highlander (2-0) errors in the fourth.

But UCR would put the game out of reach in the bottom half, with four runs coming on a bases loaded single aided by two more USF fielding mishaps. With the bases loaded, Highlander second baseman Randy Blood hit a dribbler down the third base line that Don third baseman Craig Click fielded and threw wildly to first, with the speedy Blood legging out the infield hit. Don first baseman Anthony Jimenez then recovered the errant throw and threw wildly to the plate himself allowing all four Highlanders to score.

In the seventh, Mangels added a solo shot to complete the scoring. Mangels finished the afternoon going 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI in his first start as a Highlander, while Harvey finished the day 2-for4 with a home run and three RBI.

Dan Ellis earned the win for the Highlanders, and Kevin Rose took the loss for the Dons.

The Highlanders and Dons conclude their series tomorrow at the UCR Sports Complex as the Highlanders send righthander AJ Shappi to the hill to battle the Dons' Bryan Williams. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM.