Box Score

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- UC Davis scored five times in the final four innings to dig out of an early five-run hole, but a walk-off three-run home run off the bat of UC Riverside's Vince Fernandez broke the Aggies' hearts as the Highlanders escaped with an 8-5 win in game two of their Big West Conference series on Saturday night at the Riverside Sports Complex.

UC Davis fell to 6-15 overall and 0-2 in league play, battling back with a run in the sixth, three more in the seventh, and the tying score in the eighth, after the host side scored five times in the first two innings. Riverside, who got five of its eight runs off the bat of Fernandez on the night, improved to 12-13 overall and 2-0 in conference play.

Fernandez's blast came on a 2-2 pitch from reliever Chris Brown (0-3) after back-to-back one-out singles by Mark Contreras, who finished 4-for-5 on the night, and Austin Colvin around the pitching change sparked a rally for the Highlanders. Fernandez cleared the wall in right to give UCR the series win after Riverside defeated the Aggies, 5-3, in Friday night's opener.

Brown gave up the two runs on two hits without getting an out in suffering the loss, after starter Justin Mullins gave up three earned on eight hits while striking out four over the first 5.1 innings in the start. Freshman Blake Hannah pitched three innings, combining with Mullins to allow just three hits from the third to the eighth innings to keep the Highlanders' bats at bay.

Jacob Thomas, Guillermo Salazar, and Cameron Briggs, each finished with two hits apiece to pace the Aggies' offense, which was held to just three hits and five base runners overall in the first five innings. Thomas got UC Davis on the board with its first run in the sixth, hit by a pitch with one out, moving to second on a walk to Cameron Olson, and taking third on a fielder's choice by Salazar.

After Logan Denholm was hit by a pitch to load the bases, a passed ball plated Thomas from third to break up the shutout and cut the deficit to 5-1.

Ryan Hooper drew a pinch-hit walk to lead-off the seventh and went all the way to third on a Briggs single to right. Senior Tanner Bily followed with an infield hit to score a second run and, after a bunt single by Thomas, Olson came up with the big blow -- a two-run single to right that made it a one-run game.

UC Davis then tied the game with two outs in the eighth as Chris Roppolo singled, stole second, and scored on a passed ball after an error prolonged the inning, setting up the late-game fireworks.

Ryan Lillie (3-1) earned his second win of the series in relief, throwing the final 1.1 innings, allowing just one hit, walking a pair, and striking out two. Richard Delgado started, but was stuck with the no decision, allowing just one earned on three hits over the first 6.1 innings.

The Aggies and the Highlanders wrap up their three-game series on Sunday afternoon (April 3) at 1 p.m., as senior Nat Hamby is scheduled to take the mound for UC Davis.

UC Riverside 8, UC Davis 5 (Apr 02, 2016 at Riverside, CA)
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UC Davis............ 000 001 310 - 5 9 4 (6-15, 0-2 BIG WEST)
UC Riverside........ 230 000 003 - 8 11 2 (12-13, 2-0 BIG WEST)
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Pitchers: UC Davis - Mullins, Justin; Hannah, Blake (6); Brown, Chris (9) and Denholm, Logan. UC Riverside - Delgado, R; Morton, J(7); Fagalde, A(7); Lillie, R(8) and Worden, C.
Win - Lillie, Ryan (3-1) Loss - Brown, Chris (0-3) T-3:16 A-224
HR UCR - Fernandez, V (2).
Weather: Southern California
Delgado, R faced 1 batter in the 7th.
Brown faced 2 batters in the 9th.