San Diego, CA—Freshman pinch hitter Jordan Abernathy drilled a one-out home run in the top of the ninth Friday evening, to break a 2-2 tie and give the UC Riverside Baseball Team a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over San Diego State.

The win improved the Highlanders record to 5-1 on the year, and is their fourth come-from-behind victory of the season.

UC Riverside fell behind 2-0 in the bottom of the first as Highlanders starter Keaton Leach allowed a one-out single to Danny Sheehan, and a two-run home run to Ty France. Leach settled down after that, though, scattering three hits and striking out seven over the next six-and-two-thirds innings.

Robby Witt drove in his second run of the series in the top of the third scoring Dante Chupek from second. Two innings later Vince Fernandez slugged his first homer of the season tying the score at two.

Gabe Gertner (1-0) worked out of a bases-loaded, two-out jam in the bottom of the eighth setting up Abernathy's heroics in the top of the ninth.

Aztecs (5-1) reliever Brian Heldman got Chupek to ground out to short to start the inning, before giving way to Jacob Erickson. Witt was the scheduled batter, but UC Riverside Head Coach Troy Percival called upon Abernathy to pinch hit.

Jordan Kron came on to pitch the bottom of the ninth for the Highlanders retiring the side in order for his second save of the season.

Games three and four of the San Diego State series shift to The Plex on Saturday at 3 pm PT and Sunday at 1 pm.