February 14, 2014
Highlanders 5 – Roadrunners 3
The UC Riverside softball team earned its first victory of the season over the Bakersfield Roadrunners, 5-3, as the team travelled to Fresno, Calif. to participate in the Fresno State Kickoff tournament.
The Highlanders were led by pitcher Alyssa Razo in the circle, who didn’t allow a single hit in the first three innings of the game.Dionne Anderson scored in the first inning to bring the first points to the game for the Highlanders, 1-0.
After the third inning, Razo was taken out, which brought Sophie Slagle into the circle. However, Slagle gave up three runs on three hits and the Roadrunners took the lead, 3-1, forcing UCR Head Coach Linda Garza to put Razo back in to save the troops.
It was in the fifth inning that the Highlanders got some momentum. Sommer Wilson came up to bat and hit a double to left field to score Ashley Ercolano, 2-3. Next, Haley Harris brought an RBI, allowing Wilson to score and bring the game to a tie, 3-3.
During the sixth inning, UCR put two more runs on the board to extend their lead to two, 5-3.
Razo would hold it down for the Highlanders as the pitcher retired all Bakersfield runners at the top of the seventh, giving UCR its first win of the season.
February 14, 2014
Bulldogs 5 – Highlanders 0
The UC Riverside softball team was not able to continue the momentum against a formidable opponent in Fresno State, losing 5-0.
Fresno came out strong, scoring three times in the very first inning. Stesha Brazil brought home two of the runners already on base, and was followed by a single by Paige Gumz to bring Brazil home, 3-0.
The Highlanders tried their best to respond and even had a strong opportunity by loading the bases with only one out in the fourth inning. Yet, back-to-back fly outs would close out the inning and send UCR back to the drawing board.
The sixth had both Karina Romero and Ashley Ercolano on base but both weren’t able to move and get on board. Meanwhile, Fresno State tallied a pair of runs in the sixth inning, extending the lead to 5-0.
In the final inning, the Highlanders loaded the bases once again. Natalie Sanchez singled to first before being sent to third with a double by Marissa Escalante. Then Dionne Anderson was walked, which gave the Highlanders a strong chance to earn its first point. An infield popup, however, would end the game, 5-0.
February 15, 2014
Hornets 9 – Highlanders 1
After splitting its first two games, the softball team faced Sacramento State in its third game of the tournament. The Hornets generated nine runs and 12 hits, and mercy-ruled the Highlanders 9-1 in five innings.
After an impressive display of pitching versus Bakersfield, Alyssa Razo got the start against the Hornets. The Highlanders, however, didn’t have as much success against Sacramento State, giving up three runs in 2.2 innings.
Sophie Slagle took to the mound next, but the Hornets continued to swing away. The sophomore allowed five runs in the fourth inning alone, giving the Hornets a commanding 8-0 lead.
UCR scored one run at the top of the fifth, but the Hornets scored at the bottom of the inning to earn the mercy rule victory, 9-1.
For the game, eight of nine Sacramento Players recorded hits, led by Paige Castro with three.
February 16, 2014
Highlanders 5 – Thunderbirds 2
The UC Riverside softball team (3-6) earned its first back-to-back wins of the season as the Highlanders dispatched Southern Utah, 5-3, before shutting out Sacramento State in the team’s first shutout.
In the first game of the day, Southern Utah got on the board first as a Kadi Henderson double scored two runners, 2-0. Unphased, the Highlanders responded, earning two runs at the bottom of the first behind a consecutive single and RBI, 2-2.
UCR then kicked its offense into another game, tacking on runs in the second and fifth inning to lead 5-2. The Thunders offered some resistance in the following two periods; however, the team wasn’t able to scratch again, giving the Highlanders a 5-2 victory.
February 16, 2014
Highlanders 1 – Hornets 0
The Highlanders exacted revenge on the Sacramento Hornets, who just a day previous beat them handily, with a 1-0 shutout.
After four scoreless innings, a Dionne Anderson RBI single gave UCR the first and only run of the game, 1-0. The Hornets left 10 runners on base, but weren’t able to get past UCR pitcher Ashley Ercolano.
UC Riverside now returns home to compete in the Amy S. Harrison Classic beginning on Feb. 21.
