RIVERSIDE, Calif. - UC Riverside (2-4, 0-0 Big West) overpowered Wagner (0-5, 0-0 NEC) on a perfect Saturday afternoon with a 7-2 win at the Riverside Sports Complex. 

Wagner struck first with two runs in the second, but UCR answered right back in the home half. 

The Highlanders started their second-inning three-spot with Jaxon Byrd's first home run of the season on a solo shot to right. Lucas Bonham, who went 3 for 4 on the day with two runs and an RBI, followed with a double and moved up on a David Gibbs single.

Bonham later tied the game on Manoah Chapman's opposite-field single, and Robert Pitts put UCR ahead with a single to left to score Gibbs. 

UCR cushioned its lead in the third with a two-out bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to go up 4-2. The Highlanders loaded the bases again in the fourth after Bonham took a pitch to the shoulder. A second base on balls with no one to put a man on extended UCR's advantage to 5-2. 

Halen Jaden Guerrero evaded damage in the fifth in relief of Joshua Martinez, punching out the first Seahawk he faced with two outs and runners on second and third.

Bonham continued his offensive tear in the home half of the sixth inning with his fourth RBI of the year, and Andrew Rivas pinch hit and delivered an RBI double in the seventh. 

Marco DiGirolamo recorded three strikeouts in 1.2 innings of relief, and Matt Hudson shut the door in the ninth.

UC Riverside completes the series on Sunday, February 22, with a 12:00 pm first pitch. Tickets are available now at GoHighlanders.com/tickets.