Box Score Davis, CA—The UC Riverside Baseball Team opened its 2015 Big West Conference season on the road Friday afternoon dropping a 12-3 decision at UC Davis.

Highlanders starter Angel Landazuri (1-4), who gave up one earned run or less in four of his six starts heading into the weekend, was touched for 10 hits and eight runs, seven of which were earned, in his 5.2 innings of work.

After retiring the first two batters to start the game, Landazuri gave up a walk, four singles and a double before recording the final out of the inning. The Aggies batted around in the frame jumping out to a 5-0 lead.

Davis (15-7-1, 1-0) scored two more runs in the bottom of the second, but the Highlanders offense got them back in the game in the top of the third. Cody Sporrer led off the inning with a single up the middle, and after Matthew Ellis flew out to center, Vince Fernandez drew a walk and Joe Chavez was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Robby Witt singled to right scoring Sporrer, and Vince Fernandez's single to right score Fernandez and Chavez to make it a 7-3 ballgame.

Unfortunately, the Highlanders (10-16, 0-1) managed just two more base hits the rest of the way, both off of Spencer Koopmans who lasted six innings. Nat Hamby pitched the last three inning, and didn't allow a single base runner while striking out three for his second save of the season.

UC Davis scored one more run off of Landazuri in the sixth and touched Joei Dunyon for four in the seventh for the final margin of victory.

Game two of the three-game series between the Highlanders and Aggies is slated for Saturday at 1 pm PT.