Riverside—Cal Poly starter Erich Uelmen needed just 32 pitches to retire the first 10 Highlanders Saturday evening, but by the time the dust settled on the bottom of the fourth, UC Riverside led 7-0, en route to a 11-5 victory.

The win moved the Highlanders into fourth place in the Big West as they improved to 10-10 in conference play. It also was the first victory of the season for UC Riverside starter Ricky Delgado.

Uelmen made quick work of the UCR (24-27, 10-10) offense through the first three-and-a-third innings, before giving up an infield single to Mark Contreras with one out in the top of the fourth. That was the first of four straight singles allowed by the sophomore, as the Highlanders went up 2-0.

With runners on first and second, Colby Schultz hit a grounder to second baseman Kyle Marinconz. Marinconz went to second with his throw erasing Yeager Taylor, but Brett Binning's subsequent throw to first was low, and skipped past Brett Barbier at first and to the Mustang's dugout. That allowed Aaron Cisneros to score, and sent Schultz scampering to second.

Casey Worden was then hit by a pitch, and Drake Zarate drove in a pair with a double to left center. Michael Farris' single to center scored two more to make it 6-0 Highlanders.

Colvin batted for the second time in the inning, and lace a single to left, and Contreras singled to right to tack on another run. That ended Uelmen's night, as Justin Bruihl came onto retire Vince Fernandez for the final out of the frame.

UC Riverside starter Ricky Delgado had to wait 28 minutes to get back on the mound in the top of the fifth, and two base hits and a pair of sac flies as Cal Poly (29-24, 9-11) cut the lead to five, 7-2. The Mustangs put three more runs on the board in the top of the sixth, before the Highlanders gave themselves some additional breathing room with single runs in the sixth and seventh and two more in the eighth for the final margin of victory.

UC Riverside and Cal Poly finish their three-game series Sunday beginning at 1 pm PT.