Riverside—The UC Riverside Baseball Team spotted starter Joie Dunyon a three-run lead in the bottom of the first, and the senior responded by scattering five hits over eight-and-two-third innings as the Highlanders upended the #8 ranked Gauchos, 3-2.

UCR flipped the script on the Gauchos with their early offensive outburst. The day prior, UC Santa Barbara scored nine runs in the top of the first on its way to a 20-2 victory.

Dunyon retired the side in order in the top of the first, and the first five Highlanders reached base via base hits in their half of the inning with Vince Fernandez's double to left center putting UC Riverside (14-40, 3-20) up 2-0. An Austin Colvin fielder's choice made it 3-0, and as it turned out, that was all Dunyon would need.

He didn't allow a member of the Gauchos (40-14-1, 16-7) into scoring position until the seventh inning. UCSB scratched across a single run in the seventh, and one in the eighth, and Head Coach Troy Percival sent Dunyon (2-4) out for the ninth protecting a one run lead.

The right-hander walked the lead-off man, Cameron Newell, and after a sacrifice bunt moved Newell to second, Dunyon plunked Dalton Kelly. Kyle Plantier grounded into a fielder's choice for the second out of the inning, but that advanced Newell to third, just 90 feet away from tying up the game.

Percival made the call to the pen, bringing in Ryan Lillie to face Robby Nesovic, and the freshman struck out the .347 hitting junior on three straight pitches.

Justin Jacome (7-4) pitched a complete-game for the Gauchos allowing just five hits over his final seven innings of work.

The Highlanders conclude the 2015 regular season on Saturday with a 1 pm PT first pitch against the Gauchos. The team will honor its six seniors in a ceremony prior to the game.