RIVERSIDE, Calif. - UC Riverside opened up a three game set with San Francisco this afternoon topping the Dons, 7-3. The win snapped a two game skid, including a tough 11-10 loss at UNLV on Tuesday.

Jaxon Byrd got the nod this afternoon making his fifth start of the season and went a season high 4.1 innings for the Highlanders. Although he did not figure in the decision he pitched well throwing 57 pitches and striking out three. He did give up three runs, but all were unearned. 

The Highlanders struck first and plated three runs in the bottom of the second. It started with Robert Pitts leading off with a single and Esteban Sepulveda followed with a hit by pitch. After an Andrew Rivas sac-bunt to the right side Miles Scott followed with an RBI groundout. Tyler Gordon then got hit and with two on and two out singled to center scoring Sepulveda and David Gibbs followed with an RBI single scoring Gordon.

Up 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth, UC Riverside scored two more times. Rivas led things off with a double and Scott followed with a double of his own down the right field line making it 4-0. Gibbs singled again and Scott scored to give UCR the 5-0 lead. 

The Dons got on the board in the fifth scoring three times and knocking Byrd out of the game. Zach Nagy drove in Jayden Garrison on an infield single to the right side. Jared Lewis doubled to left center scoring two more runs and San Francisco was back in it, 5-3. However, that was the only inning the Dons would score.

UC Riverside pushed a run across in the sixth and seventh innings making it 7-3. It wasn't a save situation for Matt Hudson, but the Highlander closer came in and shut the door on the Dons and giving the Highlanders their fifth win of the year.

Game two is tomorrow afternoon at 1PM from The Plex.  Read Full Article