Northridge, CA—Kevin Sprague scattered four hits over seven-and-one-third innings Saturday afternoon, and Adonis Morrison went four-for-four with two runs scored and two RBIs as the UC Riverside Baseball Team topped CSUN, 5-3.

The Highlanders (13-27, 2-9) gave Sprague an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Joe Chavez singled through the left side and stole second, advancing to third on a throwing error by the catcher. He scored on the very next play when Adonis Morrison ripped a single to center.

Morrison scored UC Riverside's second run of the day in the top of the third, beating out a single to short, and coming around to score on a Mark Contreras double down the left field line.

In the top of the fourth, the Highlanders took advantage of another Matadors' miscue to take a three-run lead. AJ Sawyer doubled to center, and moved to third on a Matthew Ellis ground out to third. An error by first baseman Nolan Rashman on the play allowed Sawyer to scamper home.

Sprague (3-4) retired the first 10 batters he faced before Ryan Raslowsky doubled to left with one out in the bottom of the fourth. A wild pitched moved Raslowsky up 90 feet, and he scored on Austin Toerner's single to right which cut the Highlanders' lead to two.

Morrison put UC Riverside back on top by three in the top of the fifth, launching a solo home run to right which made it 4-1 Highlanders.

Cody Sporrer drove in the final run of the game for UCR in the top of the eighth. His single to right scored Austin Colvin who opened the frame with a walk.

Sprague retired the first batter in the bottom of the eighth, but back-to-back walks brought Ryan Lillie out of the bullpen. The freshman got Toerner to fly out to right for out number two, and struck out Nolan Flashman to get out of the jam.

Lillie ran into trouble in the bottom of the ninth as the Matadors (25-16) strung together four singles around a Highlanders' error to make it a 5-3 ballgame with just one out.

Jared Morton replaced Lillie on the mound with the bases loaded, getting Raslowsky to foul out to the catcher, and striking out Toerner to secure the first save of his collegiate career.

The Highlanders and Matadors complete their three-game series at 1pm PT Sunday.