Tempe, AZ – The UC Riverside Baseball Team (2-2) was defeated by Washington State (1-3) on Sunday, 7-6, in the final game of both teams' season-opening weekend at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Arizona. Three different Highlanders ended the day with a home run, but the Cougars would score the last six runs of the game on the way to their only win of the weekend.

Trailing 1-0 in the top of the fourth, UC Riverside would start to take control, courtesy of a two-run homer by junior outfielder Dean Miller – his first as a Highlander. Redshirt sophomore first baseman Cade Peters also scored to give UCR its first lead, 2-1.

Shortly after, sophomore Connor Cannon gave the Highlanders their second home run of the inning with a blast to center field, making it 3-1. The Riverside native ended the opening weekend with the most RBIs (9) and home runs (3) among Big West players.

Miller would record his third RBI of the day in the top of the fifth, knocking a single to right field to bring home senior catcher Tony Gudino for the second time this season.

UC Riverside's third homer of the day would come in the seventh, directed towards left field off the bat of senior second baseman Cody Sporrer. Later in the inning, redshirt senior shortstop Colby Schultz added the Highlanders' final run of the day, scoring on a Cannon single through the left side to make it 6-1.

The Cougars had a strong answer over their next two offensive innings, however, as they put two runs on the board in the bottom of the seventh and four more in the eighth to take a 7-6 lead.

Senior Highlander pitcher Max Compton threw for five innings, striking out a team-high four batters. Junior right-hander Matt Hardy (0-1) was credited with the loss after making his second appearance of the weekend.

UCR will head back on the road next weekend to face Washington in a four-game series from Feb. 23-25.