LONG BEACH, Calif. - UC Riverside won its first Big West series of 2024 on Sunday at Blair Field with an 11-4 win over Long Beach State.
HOW IT HAPPENEDÂ
   •   Anthony Mata got hot early with a leadoff double in the top of the first before Zachary Chamizo reached on an error that advanced Mata to third. Bubba Rocha doubled to send both of them home and set the tone for the day with an early 2-0 lead. Â
   •   The Dirtbags tied it up with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first and second innings but Jayden Lopez answered back with an RBI double in the top of the third inning to bring the Highlanders back up with a 3-2 advantage.Â
   •   Dirtbag pitchers struggled in the fourth inning, walking in a pair of runs after UC Riverside loaded the bases. Sean Blandino was then hit with a pitch to send in a third run.Â
   •   The Dirtbags scored a single run in the bottom of the fourth on an error.Â
   •   Cole Koniarsky roped an RBI double and Rocha had an RBI single in the fifth to extend the Highlanders' lead to 8-3.
   •   The Highlanders poured on the insurance runs in the top of the sixth, with three coming across to bring the final score to 11-4.
HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTSÂ
   •   The Big West series win for the Highlanders snaps a drought against the Dirtbags dating back to 2016.Â
   •   UCR tied the program's all-time single-game doubles record with eight in the nine-inning slugfest.Â
   •   Koniarsky extended his hitting streak to 20 games, going 2 for 5 with an RBI and a hit.Â
   •   Freshman Noah Andrunas enjoyed a phenomenal first college start, throwing five complete innings while scattering seven hits and letting up just three earned runs.Â
   •   Eric Marrujo held it down for the Highlanders on the mound after Andrunas, holding the Dirtbags hitless for the save. He threw four complete innings letting up no hits, no runs and striking out two of the 15 batters he faced.
UP NEXTÂ
   •   UC Riverside resumes midweek action on Tuesday, April 23 with a 2:00 p.m. first pitch at UNLV.
