RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Cal Poly scored the final two runs in a 2-1 win over UC Riverside Saturday night at the Plex, as the Highlanders dropped their second straight game to the Mustangs this week.

The Highlanders (19-32, 7-16) took their first lead of the series in the bottom of the fourth. Cole Pofek got things started with his first career triple to right center. The freshman now has a hit in four straight games and in six of his last seven. Prior to these last two weeks, he had yet to record a hit in consecutive outings.

On the following at bat, junior Matt Hardy needed one pitch before firing a low, well-struck single through the left side, plating Pofek for the Highlanders' sole run of the day. Hardy had been without an RBI over his previous two games, but he continued his hot form of late, now with nine RBI over his last seven.

A pair of singles to open the fifth inning put the Mustangs in position for the tying run, which would come from Alex McKenna on an RBI fielder's choice by Bradlee Beesley.

Things would remain knotted at one run apiece until the eighth, when Cal Poly again opened the inning with back-to-back singles. On Josh George's at bat with one out on the board, Hardy would make a deep sprint into foul territory to record the second out, but that would result in a sac fly as Cole Cabrera scored the go-ahead run.

Dean Miller would reach base with a walk as the leadoff batter for the Highlanders in the eighth, but Cal Poly would retire UCR's next six batters to end the game.

Connor Cannon led the Highlanders with two hits on three at bats. Trenton Toplikar earned the start, giving up just one run and striking out a pair through five innings to lead the UCR defense.

UC Riverside will close out its 2018 season tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. on Senior Day. The pre-game ceremony is set to begin at 12:40 p.m.