Score: UC Riverside 6, UC Davis 3
Location: Riverside, Calif. (Riverside Sports Complex)
Records: UC Davis 6-8 (1-1 Big West), UC Riverside 4-11 (1-1 Big West)

THE SHORT STORY: UC Davis took an early lead but was ultimately edged out by UC Riverside 6-3 in a hard-fought contest on Saturday afternoon. The Aggies got out to a 2-0 start and reclaimed the advantage in the seventh inning, but a pivotal four-run swing by the Highlanders in the bottom half of the frame proved decisive to even the weekend series.

LEADING OFF

• Tyler Howard was an offensive catalyst, leading the Aggies with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate and a stolen base.
• Keenan Anzai delivered a brilliant starting performance on the mound. He carved through the Highlanders' lineup, striking out seven batters over 6.0 innings of work while allowing just one earned run.
• Elijah McNeal finished the day foing 1-for-4 with an RBI single in the second inning.
• Ryan Lee notched a double, and scored on of the Aggie runs on the day.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Aggies jumped out to a 2-0 advantage in the top of the second inning. Jaxon Murphy scored the opening run on a throwing error, and McNeal immediately capitalized with an RBI single to left field to bring home Lee.
• UC Riverside responded in the bottom of the fourth inning, cutting the UC Davis lead to 2-1 by manufacturing a run on a sacrifice fly.
• The Highlanders managed to tie the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning when a run crossed the plate during a critical UC Davis double play.
• In the top of the seventh, UC Davis fought back to reclaim the lead. Joey Wright drew a walk, advanced into scoring position, and was brought home on a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by Gentil, giving the Aggies a 3-2 advantage.
• UC Riverside turned the tide with a dramatic four-run outburst in the bottom of the seventh. Aided by a pair of costly UC Davis throwing errors on consecutive bunts, the Highlanders strung together a rally to suddenly take a 6-3 lead.
• Despite putting runners on base and searching for a late spark in the final innings, the Aggies couldn't complete the comeback, leaving runners stranded to end the game.

UP NEXT
UC Davis will look to claim the series on Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.