RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Highlanders traveled down the 91 to Cal Baptist for the first Crosstown Showdown of the year. UCR had a tough loss to LMU on Wednesday night at The Plex, 7-6 and entered the weekend with a 5-4 record. 

Starting today for UCR was Matthew O'Brien. The Highlanders' southpaw entered with a 0-1 record and a 4.82 ERA. The Lancers sent Andrew Rudd to the mound and he entered the game with a 9.00 ERA and no record.

Robert Pitts led the game off with a bunt single and advanced to second on a passed ball. Then with one out Griffin Harrison stroked a double on a 2-2 count scoring Pitts and giving UCR a 1-0 lead. 

The Highlanders pushed another run across in the top of the fourth. Harrison led the inning off with a single to right. After a Jayden Lopez strikeout, Andrew Rivas singled and Harrison ended up at third. Michael Weber struck out and the Highlanders needed a two out hit, something they had a hard time with against LMU. Tyler Gordon delivered that much needed hit and UCR extended the lead to 2-0.  

O'Brien threw a gem of a game and was replaced by Josh Martinez in the sixth inning. He [O'Brien] went five innings, gave up two hits and struck out five. Martinez started the sixth by hitting the first batter he faced, but settled down and got out of the inning with no damage.

The Highlanders threatened in the top of the seventh as they had two in scoring position. Gordon started the inning hit by a pitch and Manoah Chapman followed with a walk. Ethan Bergan advanced the runners on a sacrifice bunt. Landon Nunes was hit by a pitch and UCR had an opportunity to blow the game open, but Harrison went down looking. 

In the bottom half of the seventh things got a bit interesting. Martinez struck out the lead off hitter, Cole Howarth. He then after a hit batsman and a walk, the Lancers had two on with one out. He battled and struck out Bubba Rocha and got Matt Chavez to ground out leaving the runners stranded.

Lopez and Rivas started the eighth with singles. After Michael Weber grounded into a double play and with Rivas standing at third, the Highlanders looked to Tyler Gordon for a much needed two out hit. He delivered a single up the middle scoring Rivas and giving UCR a 3-0 lead. UCR loaded up the bases after a couple of walks and had a chance to put the game out of reach, but Pitts went down looking and only one run scored. 

In the bottom of the eighth, with two on and one out, UCR went to the pen and called in Matt Hudson. He was making his sixth appearance on the year, all in relief and sought to get out of the jam and he did. UCR still had the shutout going.

Hudson slammed the door shut in the ninth and the Highlanders shutout the Lancers, 3-0.