Spurred by an epic 12-run third inning, the Hawaii baseball team coasted to a 15-3 beating of UC Riverside today at The Plex in Riverside, Calif.

The outburst came a day after the Highlanders pounded the Rainbow Warriors, 16-5.

This time, the ’Bows busted a 2-all tie by nearly batting around twice in a 10-hit third inning to seize a 14-2 lead. Ethan Lopez delivered the big blow, a grand slam that easily cleared the wall in left field. The ’Bows batted 17 times in the third, and eight hitters in a row reached with two outs — seven on hits, one by hit batsman.

That was more than enough cushion for right-hander Cade Smith, who allowed nine hits but issued only one walk in six innings. Smith showed no ill effects from a bruised right thigh suffered when he was struck by a liner in last week’s game UC Davis.

Maaki Yamazaki and Daylen Calicdan each had four hits for the ’Bows. Lopez drove in six runs.

The ’Bows improved to 14-18 overall and 4-4 in the Big West. The Highlanders, who fell to 10-22 and 2-6, have relinquished 10 or more runs in 12 games this season, including three blowouts in which opponents scored 21, 25 and 31 runs.