SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (Interstat) — UC Santa Barbara defeated UC Riverside 5-3 on Saturday afternoon at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium in a Big West contest. The Gauchos improved to 37-16, while the Highlanders fell to 15-34.

UC Riverside struck first in the second inning. Catcher Esteban Sepulveda homered to left field, driving in three runs for a 3-0 lead. The Highlanders finished with seven hits. Starter Joshua Martinez tossed four scoreless innings, allowing no hits with one earned run and three strikeouts.

UC Santa Barbara answered in the fifth. Designated hitter Jonathan Mendez homered down the left-field line. Catcher Nate Vargas followed with a two-run homer to right. Later, Rowan Kelly singled through the left side to put the Gauchos ahead 4-3.

In the sixth, Noah Karliner homered to left for a 5-3 advantage. Kellan Montgomery earned top-star honors, pitching 5 2/3 innings with five hits, three earned runs and nine strikeouts. Chase Hoover relieved with 2 2/3 scoreless innings of two-hit ball, striking out three. UC Santa Barbara collected nine hits.