RIVERSIDE, Calif. - UC Riverside opened up Friday's series opener with a 3-0 lead, but ultimately dropped a 7-3 game with Saint Mary's at the Riverside Sports Complex. 

Eric Marrujo had the longest outing of his season thus far, going 5.1 innings with five hits and three strikeouts. The righty retired 10 of his first 12 batters before leaving in the fifth with the bases loaded. 

UCR took advantage of a wild pitch with two outs in the third inning before tacking on two more runs with back-to-back RBIs in the fifth to go ahead 3-0.

One of the two was off the barrel of Dylan Orick, who went 2 for 4 against the Gaels while knocking in his team-leading fifth run of the year. 

Saint Mary's capitalized on their own opportunities in the sixth, ultimately putting up a four spot to claim the Gaels' first lead of the night. Two hit batters and a walk loaded the bases for UCR in the home half of the eighth with no outs, but clutch pitching put the Highlanders down in order. 

UC Riverside is back on the diamond on Saturday for a doubleheader with the Gaels starting at 12:00 p.m. before Sunday's series finale.