LONG BEACH, Calif. - The Highlanders took game one tonight against Long Beach State, winning 5-3 in 11-innings. This was a great bounce back win coming off a tough loss to CBU on Tuesday night. For UC Riverside this was its third straight conference win, after taking the final two from CSUN last weekend.

Joshua Torres got the start for UC Riverside and it was arguably his best outing of the year. He went a season high seven innings for the Highlanders and gave up three hits and only one run. For the righty it was his second straight start going at least five innings and giving up only one run. His seven strikeouts set a new career high. 

The Highlanders found some offense early and scored in the second on a David Whittle RBI single, scoring Miles Scott. Leading 1-0, UCR scored again in third inning on a Miles Scott RBI single to center scoring Isaiah Hernandez from second. Lucas Bonham blasted his team high seventh homer in the fourth inning on the first pitch he saw. 

Torres cruised until he was lifted in the eighth for Marco DiGirolamo. Long Beach State scored twice on a two RBI single by Smith Chandler and the Dirtbags were back in it. Matt Hudson became the third UCR pitcher in the frame and was able to work his way out of a jam.

Long Beach State then tied the game in the bottom of the ninth on a double play. Hudson got the final out, but the game headed for extra innings. 

In the top of the 11th, UC Riverside pushed two across and the runs came with two outs. It started with Esteban Sepulveda getting hit by a pitch. Needing more speed on the base paths, Hunter Backstrom ran for Sepulveda. Bonham then had a stellar nine pitch at bat before drawing a walk. Then on a full count Jarren Sanderson crushed a double to left scoring both Backstrom and Bonham, giving UCR a 5-3 lead.

Jaxon Byrd entered the game in the 10th and in the 11th he retired the first two hitters quickly. Then it got a bit interesting. Trotter Enright reached on an error and Jake Evans was hit. Matt Toomey reached on an infield single and quickly the bases were loaded. Byrd settled and struck out Dylan Lina on three pitches securing the win for UCR.

Byrd got the win and improved his record to 1-1 on the year. 

Game two is tomorrow night at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field with first pitch scheduled for 6PM. The game will be available on ESPN+. Read Full Article