RIVERSIDE, Calif. - UC Riverside opened a three-game series with UC Irvine on Friday night at the Riverside Sports Complex, falling 13-1.
Jacob Shanks went 4 for 5 on the night, singling up the middle in the bottom of the fifth before wheeling over to third on a single from Jacob Badawi. Badawi joined Shanks as the Highlanders' only multi-hit batters of the game, going 2 for 4.
Shanks also doubled in the bottom of the ninth for his season-high fourth hit of the evening.
UCR eliminated the shutout in the fourth inning after Joey Nicolai singled and advanced to second on the throw. Nicolai went to third on a groundout and came home on Nathan Webb's sacrifice fly to right field.
The Highlanders and Anteaters will resume with game two on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. on ESPN+.