SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - UC Riverside opened the final Big West series of the season against the University of California, Santa Barbara Gauchos with a Thursday evening showdown at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium. Despite jumping to the lead in the fourth inning, the Highlanders couldn't hold the Gauchos and fell 12-3.
HOW IT HAPPENED 
	- The Gauchos opened up the scoreboard with a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning. 
- In the top of the fourth, the Highlanders pounded out three runs. Sean Blandino doubled to score Koniarsky, followed by Lopez scoring on a fielding error. Rudy Rodriguez sent the final run of the inning home with a sacrifice to score Blandino. 
- The Gauchos put up runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, culminating with a three run homer in the bottom of the eighth to lift UCSB to a 12-3 lead.  
HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS 
	- Blandino had a double, an RBI and a run in his three at bats to open the series. 
UP NEXT 
	- The Highlanders return to face the Gauchos for game two in the final weekend of Big West play. First pitch is scheduled for 4:35 p.m. on Friday, May 24.