RIVERSIDE, Calif. - UC Riverside has now won two of its last three after a 3-2 win over Hawaii on Friday night at the Riverside Sports Complex. 

UC Riverside came out aggressive in the series opener with a wild pitch in the second inning accounting for UCR's first run of the game and series. Anthony Mata drew a leadoff full count walk before advancing to second and taking advantage of his opportunity. 

UCR cushioned its lead an inning later with a two-run home run from Jacob Shanks, his first of the year and the Highlanders' first since Dominic Martinez went long at San Diego State back on April 4. Shanks' shot in the third was just the Highlanders' second at the Plex in 2023 out of 11 home runs now on the year for UC Riverside.

Tyler Weaver kept his hot streak going in Friday's game one after catching fire in last weekend's games two and three at UC Davis. Weaver picked up where he left off on Friday with a 3-for-4 night against Hawaii, recording his second three-hit game of the season and first since UCR's 8-2 win at California Baptist on March 27. 

The Rainbow Warriors picked up a pair of runs across the seventh and eighth innings, but UC Riverside's pitching staff stayed consistent as it was through the night despite Hawaii putting a runner on first in the ninth and moving him over to second on a wild pitch. 

Three of UCR's four hurlers on the evening recorded four strikeouts each, including Friday starter Cruz Barrios, who now has 13 strikeouts in his last four appearances spanning 8.1 innings. Tyler Frazier recorded UCR's 13th and final punchout, a crucial second out in the ninth that held Hawaii's runner at second before a flyout ended it. 

Frazier tallied his second save of the year on the night. 

UCR and Hawaii will resume the series on Saturday night with a 6:30 p.m. first pitch on ESPN+ from the Riverside Sports Complex.