RIVERSIDE, Calif. - UC Riverside opened the 2024 campaign on Friday night at the Riverside Sports Complex with a 12-3 loss to Nevada.  

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Anthony Mata went 1 for 4 at the plate with two runs and an RBI, scoring UCR's first run of 2024 on a foul out to right from Cole Koniarsky.  
• Julian Orozco got the ball for UC Riverside in the season opener, going 4.0 innings with four strikeouts and came out of the gate dealing with back-to-back 1-2-3 innings.  
• Tyler Martinez began his first year in the Inland Empire going 2 for 3 with UC Riverside's third run of the night on a groundout from Mata. Martinez took the first pitch he saw into left field for a single, then wheeled around to third on a double from Nick Poss.  
• Bubba Rocha collected his first Highlander RBI in the sixth to bring home Mata. Rocha's knock moved fellow newcomer Zachary Chamizo over to third after Chamizo singled to right. 

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS 

• UC Riverside found ways to generate offense on the night with runners in scoring position in three of the first five innings, two of which originated from extra-base hits.  
• UCR's sixth inning run came swiftly, as Mata wore the first pitch he saw and then moved to second on Zachary Chamizo's first pich of the at-bat.  
• Seven Highlanders stepped into the batter's box for the first time in their Highlander careers, as Rocha and Koniarsky combined for two of UCR's three RBIs on the night.  

UP NEXT 

• UC Riverside is back at The Plex on Saturday to host Nevada at 6:00 p.m.