Highlanders Fall, 1-0, to Gauchos

Thursday, May 14

Santa Barbara, CA

4:35 pm

UC Riverside

15-35, 10-18

UC Santa Barbara

35-16, 20-8

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
UC Riverside	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1
UC Santa Barbara	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	X	1	3	0

5/14/2026 7:52:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The Highlanders headed up the California coast to take on UC Santa Barbara in the final series of 2026. Joshua Torres got the start for the Highlanders and had one of his best outings of the year. Turned out the Gauchos were one run better.

Torres went the eight strong innings for UCR giving up three hits and the lone run. It came in the third inning on a home run by Nate Vargas. The righty got into a jam in the bottom of the fourth when the first two batters got on base. After a double steal the Gauchos looked to break the game open then and there. Torres settled down and retired the next three batters and no damage done. He remained in control the rest of the game.

Jackson Flora took a no-hitter into the eighth inning, but it was broken up by Jarren Sanderson. He took the first pitch down the right field line for a ground rule double. The Highlanders got a bit unlucky though as it could have been a triple. Jaxon Byrd singled up the middle, but a solid defensive play by the Gauchos only allowed Sanderson to move up 90-feet. With runners on the corners and only one out Flora escaped with the shutout intact.

That was UCR's best and only chance as Flora retired the Highlanders in order in the ninth to earn his tenth win on the year. Torres deserved a better result and took the loss dropping to 1-5 on the year. This was the second time this season that Torres lost a 1-0 game, the last one came at Hawai'i. This was the second complete game for the Highlanders this year.

Up next is game two tomorrow afternoon from Santa Barbara with first pitch at 4:35PM.