SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – UC Riverside (15-22, 4-7) got an RBI from Anthony Lepre for a season-best third straight game on Saturday, but the Highlanders struggled to contain UC Santa Barbara (20-17, 6-5) on the road, falling 14-2.

Late UCR runs from Matt Hardy and Connor Cannon weren't enough as UCSB proceeded to score 10 runs between the seventh and eighth innings to put the game out of reach. Lepre and senior second baseman Cody Sporrer led the way with two hits and an RBI apiece.

The Highlanders struck first in the top of the sixth, as a Lepre single to left center brought Hardy home to make it 4-1 in favor of the Gauchos. UCSB would proceed to score the next 10 runs before Connor Cannon scratched in the top of the ninth on a Sporrer single to first base.

UCR also saw one-hit outings from Hardy, Colby Schultz, Dean Miller and Dylan Orick. The Highlanders matched UCSB in errors at 1-1, but was outhit on the day 13-8.

Lepre now has a hit in seven consecutive games and four RBI over his past three appearances. Sporrer finished with two hits for the second straight game, recording an RBI for the first time in 13 contests.

The Highlanders will close out their road weekend series at UC Santa Barbara tomorrow starting at 1:00 p.m. at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium.