RIVERSIDE, Calif. - Offense was more commonplace for UC Riverside on Sunday afternoon, but the Highlanders fell 10-6 to UC Santa Barbara to finish off a four-game series and 2021 Big West play at the Riverside Sports Complex.

Four different Highlanders recorded multi-hit games, including Travis Bohall's 3-for-3 day with two runs.

"We start multiple freshmen every game," interim head coach Justin Johnson said, "and they continue to compete and improve throughout the year. It's promising for our future."

Younger talent was certainly on display for the Highlanders, as Joey Nicolai collected his third straight multi-hit game with a 2-for-4 performance. Nicolai belted singles in the fourth and sixth innings.

Dylan Orick put UCR on the board first with his 29th RBI of the season in the first inning. Bohall singled on an 0-2 pitch to lead off the inning, then after Ely Stuart singled to advance Bohall to third, Orick brought him home with a bloop single to left center. 

Bohall's second hit of the day was a leadoff double down the left field line to prompt activity in the UC Santa Barbara bullpen, but nothing further occurred offensively for UCR.

The Highlanders put runners on first and second in Anthony McFarland and Nicolai, respectively, in the sixth. Ethan Payne ran the count full with two out and two on, but grounded out to end the UCR sixth inning.

Nathan Webb made Sunday's finale a little more interesting in the seventh with a two-run home run over the left field fence, cutting the Gauchos' lead to 7-5. It was the sixth home run of the year for Webb, who was named to the John Olerud Award Watch List earlier this season.

Nicolai recorded an RBI in the fifth game out of his last seven. He grounded out to short in the eighth inning, but brought home Jacob Shanks from third base after Shanks tripled to left on the first pitch of the inning. 

UC Riverside has wrapped up Big West play for 2021 and will conclude its season with the Crosstown Showdown next weekend against Cal Baptist. First pitch in the four-game slate with the Lancers is scheduled for Thursday, May 27 at 6:00 p.m. from the Riverside Sports Complex.