Tucker Juline
2
Villanova VU 0-2
7
Winner UC Riverside UCR 1-0
Villanova VU
0-2
2
Final
7
UC Riverside UCR
1-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Villanova VU 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 8 3
UC Riverside UCR 0 0 1 6 0 0 0 0 X 7 9 0

W: Juline, Tucker (1-0) L: RIVERA, D. (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

UC Riverside Takes Down Villanova 7-2 on Opening Day

PEORIA, Ariz.  - The University of California, Riverside Highlanders opened the 2023 season with a win on the road, defeating Villanova 7-2.

Tyler Weaver opened up the scoreboard for the Highlanders this season, grounding out for an RBI in the bottom of the third inning to send Sean McLeod home, putting the Highlanders up 1-0 heading into the fourth.

"It's a great way to start the season," head coach Justin Johnson said. "I'm proud of the way the guys competed. It feels great to start the season with a win, knowing we can to build off of it. Our key offensively was stringing hits together in the fourth and putting a lot of pressure on them."

Villanova answered back with two run homerun in the top of the inning, only for UC Riverside to respond with an explosive bottom of the fourth. 

Andrew Rivas got things started, singling up the middle to score Dominic Martinez. Anthony Mata would follow him home after Nick Poss got on base as the result of a fielding error. Badawi sent two runs across with a sacrifice bunt, as Poss and Mata made it home safe on a throwing error. McLeod singled up the middle to send Badawi in. Weaver, who opened the scoreline for UCR, sent the last run of the game in as well, scoring McLeod with a sacrifice fly. Villanova got out of the fourth inning down 7-2. 

After the fourth, tight pitching prevented either team from scoring another run. 

Tucker Juline took the win for the Highlanders, throwing four scoreless innings on two hits and striking out four. Mata went 2-2 at the plate, with McLeod going 3-2 with one RBI to lead the Highlanders offensively.

UCR looks to take another on the road tomorrow, Saturday, February 18, facing Washington State University at 11:00 AM.