SACRAMENTO, Calif. - UC Riverside dropped its second straight game to Sac State, this time 2-1. Offense was a premium tonight in our state's capitol as runs were scored in the first and the third.

The Highlanders sent Josh Martinez to the mound for his fifth start of the year. He threw three innings and surrendered the two runs in the bottom of the third. Martinez gave up six hits and struck out four as he faced 15 batters. The runs came on a pair of RBI singles, which was all the Hornets needed. The Highlanders' arms were solid as they struck out a combined 11 Sac State hitters, but they did issue seven walks and gave up eight hits. 

Kurt Marton came in the fifth inning and went 3.2 innings striking out five and giving up no runs. 

UCR scored its only run in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly by Manoah Chapman that scored Robert Pitts. For Chapman that was his team leading 22nd RBI and for Pitts it was his 17th run scored. 

The Highlanders got only four hits and left two on base. 

UCR returns to the field tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. for the series finale. Then they head home to take on CBU and San Diego State on Monday and Tuesday night.