Box Score Riverside—The Oregon Baseball Team used a seven-run third inning to break open a close game and upend UC Riverside 12-3 Wednesday evening.

Jesus Gonzalez got the start for UC Riverside (10-15), and the Ducks touched him for a pair of unearned runs in the top of the first. The first batter, Matt Eureste, hit a grounder to second base but Cody Sporrer's throw to first was off the mark allowing Eureste to reach. Scott Heineman's sac bunt moved Eureste up 90 feet, and Mitchell Tolman singled up the middle scoring the Ducks first run of the game.

Tolman advanced to second on the throw back to the infield, and moved to third on a wild pitch.  One batter later, Josh Graham singled to center to make it 2-0 Oregon (17-8).

Gonzalez (1-2) retired the Ducks in order in the second, but in the third he allowed two singles, a walk, an RBI single and a grand slam to fall behind 7-0. After a four-pitch walk to Phil Craig-St. Louis, Gonzalez was replaced with Antonio Gonzales.

Gonzales walked the first batter he faced before recording the first out of the inning on a sac bunt. Shaun Chase then singled up the middle scoring two more runs.

The Highlanders got on the board in the bottom of the third with a two-out rally. Joe Chavez led off the frame with a single, and advanced to third on a single by Vince Fernandez. A double-play grounder scored Chavez with UC Riverside's first run of the game.

Oregon starter Jacob Corn (2-0) then walked three straight batters before an AJ Sawyer single up the middle plated two to make it 9-3 Ducks.

Oregon tacked on insurance runs in the fourth, seventh and ninth to provide the Ducks with their final margin of victory as relief pitcher Kohl Hotert pitched four hitless and scoreless innings of relief to record his first save.

The Highlanders begin Big West Conference play this weekend by traveling to UC Davis for a three-game series with the Aggies.