With the win, UC Riverside improved to 20-16 overall and 1-6 in Big West Conference games. The Hornets fell to 14-17 overall and 0-7 in league games.

Shappi retired the first six batters he faced before allowing an infield single to Bret LeVier to start the third inning. He allowed a second infield single in the inning to Casey Fuller. Shappi hit Mario Celillo in the fourth inning and allowed a third infield single to Tito Barba in the fifth. Sacramento State collected its first hit outside the infield in the seventh inning when LeVier singled to right center. For the game, Shappi allowed just four balls outside of the infield (one hit, three flyouts).

Offensively, the Highlanders were led by Tony Festa’s three hits. Adam Suess, Jimmy Anderson, Randy Blood, Adam Spiker and Tim Faulkner also added two hits apiece.

UCR jumped on the board in the first inning on a fielding error by LeVier which plated Suess. The team added two more runs in the third behind an RBI-triple by Anderson and a single from Blood. The Highlanders made the score 5-0 in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly by Suess and a single to center from Anderson.

UC Riverside put the game out of reach in the eighth inning with four runs. The team received doubles from Faulkner and Wahlbrink and a two-run home run by Suess.

The two teams will continue the three-game series on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Hornet Field.

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UC Riverside (20-16, 1-6) 102 200 041 - 10 15 1

Sacramento State (14-17, 0-7) 000 000 000 - 0 4 2

WP - A.J. Shappi (4-2)

LP - Jeff Groeger (4-5)

A.J. Shappi and Jimmy Anderson; Jeff Groeger, Steve Cuckovich (5), Dusty Decker (9) and Joe Evans, Matt Wilson (9).

TOP HITTERS - UCR: Tony Festa 3x5; Adam Suess 2x3, HR, 2B; Jimmy Anderson 2x5, 3B; Tim Faulkner 2x5, 2B; Randy Blood 2x4; Adam Spiker 2x5; Brian Wahlbrink 2B. SAC: Bret LeVier 2x3.