RIVERSIDE, Calif. - UC Riverside played a series finale with UC Irvine under the hot Inland Empire sun on Sunday afternoon, winning a dramatic 3-2 finale in walk off fashion. 

Tucker Juline sent the Anteaters down in order in the top of the first, jumpstarting a Highlander offense that threatened in the bottom of the first. 

Cole Pofek wore one on an 0-2 pitch to lead off UCR's half of the inning and advanced to second, putting runners on first and second after Dylan Orick belted a single to second base. Jacob Shanks reached on a fielder's choice to advance Pofek 90 feet to third, but was caught stealing to end the frame.

UCR ultimately put four of its first five batters on base with hits from Orick and Taylor Juline, recording a hit in the first five innings of the afternoon.

UCI repeatedly belted balls into the outfield for routine flyouts in the second inning to move runners over, and eventually it paid off with a sacrifice fly out to right field to put the Anteaters up 1-0. 

Orick came through in the fifth once more, this time with an infield single for RBI number 27 on the year to tie the ball game. Anthony McFarland led the inning off with a single up the middle, followed by a Pofek single and a hit by pitch from Andrew Rivas. 
Irvine put runners on second and third in the eighth inning and capitalized on a Highlander miscue, scoring the go-ahead run on a wild pitch. 

The Highlanders strung together one more ninth inning rally for the weekend, this time with more favorable results. Anthony Mata led off the frame with a walk and advanced to second on a fielder's choice, later scoring on an RBI double from Nathan Webb. Webb moved to third on a wild pitch before Jacob Badawi walked off Irvine with a single down the third base line. 

UCR will play its final Big West series this coming weekend at UC Santa Barbara with all three games broadcast live on ESPN+.