Follow UC Davis: Twitter  |  Instagram  |  Facebook
 
 
DAVIS, Calif. – For the second time in as many weeks, sophomore right-hander Jake Spillane set a new career high after striking out nine Highlanders throughout his eight-inning appearance in Friday's series opener at Phil Swimley Field at Dobbins Stadium.
 
Last week at UC Santa Barbara, Spillane fanned eight to set his previous career best, which only lasted one week.
 
A ground ball from Jake Brandel in the bottom of the eighth inning allowed Cooper Morrison to score and trim UC Riverside's lead to four runs, but the Aggies were unable to score in their final set of at bats and fell to the Highlanders, 5-1. W
 
Morrison's single to left with one out in the bottom of the eighth ultimately led to the senior outfielder scoring two batters later. After taking second on Michael Campagna's single to left, a Highlander wild pitch allowed him to easily advance to third.
 
In addition to scoring his team's run, Morrison reached base safely in three of his four plate appearances.
 
After scoring its first run of the day in the top of the first, a solo home run that just snuck inside the left field foul pole allowed UC Riverside to double its lead. The score remained 2-0 until the Highlanders pushed another three runners across the plate on three singles and a double extended their lead to five runs.
 
UC Davis (5-18, 0-9 BWC) and UC Riverside (5-11, 3-6 BWC) will return to campus for Saturday's 12 p.m. Big West Conference doubleheader, a video stream and live stats are available for each game.
 

 
 
ABOUT UC DAVIS
Over 700 student-athletes across 25 intercollegiate athletics teams, following the addition of equestrian and women's beach volleyball in 2018, are enrolled in 71 of more than 100 academic programs at the fifth-ranked public school in the nation.
 
Centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe and the Napa Valley, UC Davis is known nationwide as a leader in Title IX gender equity and leadership, ranks annually in the top 10 in diversity and students' social mobility and offers an unrivaled student-athlete experience that features the ideal combination of elite academics, Division I athletics and personal growth.
 
UC Davis is uncommonly committed to preparing student-athletes for life after graduation with Aggie EVO — an innovative student-athlete outcomes program that helps young women and men develop passions, gain real-world experience, and enjoy a successful launch to full-time employment or graduate school. Through Aggie EVO, Intercollegiate Athletics provides unmatched resources and a vast network of working professionals to ensure post-graduation success for its student-athletes.