SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (Interstat) — UC Santa Barbara rallied from an early three-run deficit to defeat UC Riverside 5-3 Saturday afternoon at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium, completing a series sweep in a Big West matchup.

The Gauchos improved to 37-16 overall, while the Highlanders fell to 15-34.

UC Riverside struck first in the top of the second inning against Gauchos starter Kellan Montgomery. With two outs, Noah Chapman singled up the middle and Andrew Rivas singled to right field, advancing Chapman to third. Esteban Sepulveda then drove a 3-2 pitch over the left field fence for a three-run home run, giving the Highlanders a 3-0 lead.

Montgomery settled down after the home run. He retired the next batter to end the inning and proceeded to pitch scoreless frames in the third, fourth and fifth. He finished with 5 2/3 innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits while striking out nine.

Highlanders starter Joshua Martinez worked four scoreless innings, allowing no hits with one earned run and three strikeouts. He left the game after the fourth with UC Riverside still ahead 3-0.

The Gauchos broke through in the bottom of the fifth. Jonathan Mendez led off with a solo home run to left field, cutting the lead to 3-1. After a flyout, Liam Barrett singled on a bunt off reliever Marco DiGirolamo. Nate Vargas then crushed a two-run homer to right field, driving in Barrett and tying the game 3-3.

Later in the inning, Liam Vasseur doubled to left-center and scored on a single through the left side by Rowan Kelly, giving UC Santa Barbara a 4-3 lead. Kelly was erased on a fielder’s choice to end the inning.

The Gauchos added an insurance run in the sixth against reliever Adrian Blanchet. Noah Karliner led off with a solo home run to left field, his team’s third solo shot of the game, making it 5-3.

UC Riverside threatened in the top of the ninth. Jarren Sanderson singled to right-center with one out off Gauchos reliever Chase Hoover. Robert Pitts followed with a single to left, advancing Sanderson to second. Josh Jannicelli entered from the bullpen and struck out Noah Chapman and Andrew Rivas to end the game.

Hoover earned the win with 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out three. Jannicelli recorded his second strikeout of the inning for the save.

For UC Santa Barbara, Vargas went 1 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs. Mendez finished 2 for 4 with a home run and an RBI. Karliner was 1 for 3 with a solo homer. Montgomery was named the top star for the Gauchos after his strong start.

For UC Riverside, Sepulveda was 1 for 3 with the three-run homer. Rivas had two hits, including a double.

The series was lopsided before Saturday’s contest. UC Santa Barbara won the opener 15-5 on Friday and took a 1-0 decision Thursday. The Gauchos have won 11 of their last 14 games. UC Riverside has lost nine of its last 10.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of UC Santa Barbara 7, UC Riverside 3, and its ELO system gave the Gauchos a 91.50 percent probability to win.