RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Facing San Jose State (14-22) Friday night, UC Riverside (15-17) used a five-run fifth inning to come away with a narrow 8-7 victory in the two teams' series-opener.

Junior catcher Anthony Lepre led the way with three RBI and a home run for the second time this season, going 2-of-3 at the plate.

Juniors Yeager Taylor and Matt Hardy finished with one hit and two RBI apiece. Both of Taylors' RBI came on a two-run blast in the bottom of the fifth, his first home run of the season.

UCR enjoyed its offensive outburst immediately after allowing four runs on four hits in the top of the fifth. Trailing 5-2 heading into the bottom of the inning, the Highlanders would one-up the visitors with five runs on five hits.

Senior second baseman Cody Sporrer struck first, reaching first on an infield single before eventually being brought home on a Hardy sac fly. Taylor's homer would then tie things up, also scoring a run from Dean Miller.

Freshman Nathan Webb would give the Highlanders' the lead thanks to a Lepre double. Lepre would then make it 7-5 on a Dylan Orick single through the right side.

UC Riverside added one more run from Sporrer in the bottom of the sixth, as he gave Hardy his second RBI of the day on a single to left center.

The Spartans would keep things interesting in the top of the ninth, scoring two runs against two outs to cut the deficit to 8-7. However, junior left-handed pitcher Hazahel Quijada would pick up the final two outs for his second save of the season, while redshirt sophomore righty Trenton Toplikar (3-2) struck out four to earn his third win of the year.

Five Highlanders ended the way with multi-hit performances, as UCR matched San Jose with 13 hits. UCR finished with two home runs, ending a season-long five-game run without a homer.

The series will pick back up with game two on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. at The Plex.