HONOLULU – UC Riverside began a three-game series at Hawaii on Friday night in Honolulu, falling 5-2 at Les Murakami Stadium. 
 
Jacob Shanks returned to the lineup for the first time since March 4, going 1 for 4 in Friday's series opener.  
 
Jeremiah Priddy made his third start of the season and went 5.1 innings with a season-high six strikeouts. His fourth punchout of the evening ended the third inning after the Rainbow Warriors threatened with the bases loaded. 
 
Priddy retired his first six batters of the night in order with three strikeouts before Hawaii broke the deadlock with a home run on the first pitch of the third inning. 
 
UC Riverside's offense found sparks of life in the middle innings. 
 
Anthony Mata drew a five-pitch walk in the fourth inning then advanced to second on a wild pitch before Joey Nicolai worked himself on base for the sixth time in his last seven games with a nine-pitch walk. Shanks reached on a fielder's choice, but Nicolai was tagged out at second.
 
The Highlanders quickly put two runners on again in the fifth inning, then loaded the bases after Jacob Badawi reached on an error to stretch his on-base streak to a season-high five games. Andrew Rivas wore one on an 0-2 count to walk home the tying run. 
 
Hawaii tied the game at two on an infield single with Sergio Ramirez now on the mound, but Ramirez manufactured a strikeout and a flyout to limit the damage. The Rainbow Warriors were denied a steal of home, but went ahead on the next pitch with a solo home run before tacking on two more runs.
 
UC Riverside and Hawaii will pick up the series on Saturday evening with a 9:35 p.m. PT first pitch.