RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The University of California, Riverside (UCR) Highlanders baseball team dropped the fourth and final game on the road in the series against the University of California, Irvine (UCI) Anteaters, 9-1.
 
UC Irvine put their first run on the board with a solo homerun in the second inning, to take the lead. After loading the bases, starting pitcher Eric Marrujo hit an Anteater with a pitch to send in a second run before getting out of the inning to put UCI in the lead, 2-0.
 
In the third inning, the Anteaters got another run across with an RBI single to left field, putting UC Irvine up 3-0.
 
While Highlander bats struggled to make a dent against UC Irvine's pitching and defense, two more 'Eater runs extended the home team's lead in the fourth inning, 5-0.
 
In the fifth inning, the Highlanders gave up another homerun, bringing the 'Eaters to 6-0.
 
Jacob Shanks broke onto the scoreboard in the top of the seventh, scoring the lone run of the day for UCR off an RBI double down the left field line. 
 
The Anteaters answered back with three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, making the final score 9-1 in favor of UC Irvine.
 
UC Riverside will return to the Riverside Sports Complex next weekend for the final Big West Conference series of the 2021 season, facing off against the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos in a four game set. The first game of the series is scheduled for May 21 at 6 PM.