San Diego, CA—The UC Riverside Baseball Team was looking to start the season with wins in each of its first five games for the first time since 2007, but San Diego State scored five runs in the first three innings Thursday evening on its way to a 6-2 victory snapping the Highlanders' four-game winning steak.

Kevin Sprague (1-1) got the start for UCR, but he gave up single runs in each of the first two innings and a three spot in the third as the Highlanders fell behind 5-0.

UC Riverside (4-1) got on the board in the top of the fourth as Robby Witt began the frame with a single to right, and eventually scored on an Alex Rubanowitz sac fly. The Highlanders picked up their second run in the top of the sixth when Witt send a 2-2 offering over the fence for his first home run of the season.

Max Compton relieved Sprague with a runner on first and nobody out in the bottom of the fifth and got out of the inning unscathed. In the bottom of the sixth, however, he walked the leadoff batter, Justin Wylie, and moved him to second following an errant pick-off attempt.

After Brody Westmoreland grounded out to second, Steven Pallares doubled down the left field line to make it 6-2 Aztecs (5-0).

Jared Morton came on in relief of Compton and pitched one-and-two-third innings of shutout baseball, and Gabe Gertner struck out all three batters he faced in the bottom of the eighth. But the Highlanders were held hitless over the final three frames, and San Diego State had the victory in hand.

Cody Thompson got the win scattering seven hits over six innings while striking out seven.

The Aztecs and Highlanders play game two of their four-game series on Friday beginning at 6 pm PT.