Riverside, Calif.- Tuesday night, the UC Riverside Baseball Team (5-7) opened a two game series with Valparaiso (4-7) defeating the Crusaders 4-3.

The Highlanders took an early lead scoring three runs in the first two innings as junior Dean Miller singled up the middle in the bottom of the 1st to drive in junior Justin Mannens from 2nd and put UCR ahead 1-0. After advancing to 3rd, Miller would come around to score on a ball put into play by senior AJ Sawyer giving the Higlanders a 2-0 lead.

UC Riverside would add to the board again in the 2nd as Mannens would reach base with two outs on a single to right field before stealing 2nd and then reaching 3rd on a errant throw. The Highlanders would extend their lead to 3-0 as senior Colby Schultz brought Mannens home on an RBI single to right field.

The Crusaders would even the game in the top of the 5th scoring scoring three runs, but junior Hazahel Quijada would come in to pitch in the top of the 6th shutting out Valpo for 2.1 innings and only allowing one hit to get the win for the UCR. 

The Highlanders would score the final run of the game in the bottom of the 6th to break the tie. After a double to right field, Schultz would come around to score on an RBI single from Miller that gave UCR the 4-3 lead.

Senior Jared Morton would come in to pitch in the 8th inning and grab a five-out save to give the Highlanders a 4-3 victory.

UC Riverside will face Valparaiso again tomorrow night at 6:00 PM at The Plex in Riverside, CA.