RIVERSIDE, Calif. - UC Riverside started Big West play on Friday night at the Riverside Sports Complex with an 8-4 defeat to CSUN.  

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Anthony Mata nearly gave UCR its third game with a first inning run in its last five games, making his way to third after leading off the inning with a single up the middle.  
• Mata redeemed himself in the very next frame with a double down the left field line to put UCR up 2-0. The senior recorded his fifth double of 2024 and second straight game with a double.  
• CSUN pulled back a run with an RBI double of their own to the same spot, but the Highlanders padded their lead in the fifth on a single from Bubba Rocha.  
• UC Riverside got its second RBI double of the evening in the seventh with Cole Koniarsky slapping one into right center, scoring Zachary Chamizo.  

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS 

• Alfredo Capacete II recorded five strikeouts in relief of starter Julian Orozco.  
• James Appleford made an appearance on the mound in his second straight game.  
• Koniarsky recorded his third three-hit game of the season, going 3 for 5 in his first Big West contest with a run and an RBI.  

UP NEXT 

• UC Riverside continues its three-game set with the Matadors on Saturday night, with first pitch scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at the Riverside Sports Complex on ESPN+. Tickets are available at highlanderstickets.universitytickets.com.