Riverside—The UC Riverside Softball Team picked up a double header sweep of UC Davis Saturday afternoon, to pull within one game of third place in the Big West Conference standings.
GAME ONE
Trailing 7-1 in the middle of the third, the Highlanders (22-19, 4-6) battled back to tie the score at seven, only to watch the Aggies score an unearned run in the top of the seventh to take a one-run lead.
Sarah Parten led off the bottom of the seventh for the Highlanders, and hit a grounder to the second base side of short. The ball bounced off Christa Castello's glove for an error, allowing Parten to reach first. Danielle Ortega then followed with a single up the middle, and Jenna Curtan drew a walk to load the bases.
That brought Hannah Rodriguez to the plate, and she also drew a walk to tie the score at eight. UC Davis picked up the first out of the inning on Jenea Lockwood's fielder's choice grounder, as the Aggies cut down Ortega at the plate.
They wouldn't have the same opportunity with Rebecca Faulkner at the plate, as she ripped a clean single into left, and the Highlanders celebrated at home plate as Curtan scored the winning run.
UC Davis (17-25, 2-8) jumped on top of UC Riverside early, scoring four in the second and three in the third to go up 7-1. The Highlanders began their comeback in their half of the third, sending eight batters to the plate.
Cepeda brought home the first run of the inning with a bases loaded walk, and a wild pitch brought home the second run of the frame. Ortega made it a three-run game with a triple which scored Cepeda and Brittney Garcia.
UC Riverside scored two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie the score at seven, with Garcia and Cepeda each getting credit for an RBI.
It remained a 7-7 ballgame until the top of the seventh. Brianna Warner opened the frame with a bunt single for the Aggies, and a sac bunt moved Warner into scoring position. Tayler Misfeldt (10-4) struck out Ashley Lotoszynski for out number two, bringing Taylor Peters to the plate. She wouldn't figure in the subsequent scoring play, however, as Warner scored without the benefit of a ball being put in play.
With Peters threatening to bunt, the Highlanders had their infielders pinched in at the corners. Warner took advantage of the defense, and made a break for third. UC Riverside shortstop Hannah Rodriguez tried to beat her to the bag, and take the throw from catcher Jenea Lockwood, but Lockwood's throw sailed wide, and rolled into the left field foul territory, allowing Warner to score, and setting up the Highlanders seventh-inning heroics.
Misfeldt was credited with the win after coming on in relief in the fourth inning. She allowed three hits and an unearned run, while striking out six in her 4.0 innings of work. Frankie Mendoza (0-1) took the loss for the Aggies.
GAME TWO
The Highlanders (23-19, 5-6) didn't need any last-inning magic in game two of the twin bill, as Tayler Misfeldt scattered eight hits over seven innings in a 5-0 shutout of the Aggies (17-26, 2-9).
That effort continued an impressive string for Misfeldt, who has lowered her ERA from 4.65 on March 14, to 2.80 after Saturday. Since March 25, Misfeldt (11-4) has an ERA of 1.11, and over her last five appearances, spanning 21 innings, she has allowed just one earned run, striking out 14 batters, and walking two.
The Highlanders gave Misfeldt the lead, Saturday, in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a series of two-out base hits. With Rebecca Faulkner on second, and two gone, Chelsey Holley singled down the left field line to put runners at the corners. Anessa Cepeda followed with a double to right, scoring both Faulkner and Holley, and Sarah Parten ripped a triple down the right field line to make it 3-0 Highlanders.
UC Riverside tacked on two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, once again scoring with two outs. Parten got things started with a double to center, and Ortega singled to third moving Parten 90 feet closer to home. A passed ball brought Parten in to score, and moved Danielle Ortega to second. Jenna Curtan's single up the middle ended the scoring for the day.
Andrea Reynolds (6-13) took the loss for UC Davis.
The Highlanders and Aggies conclude their three-game Big West Conference series on Sunday beginning at 1 pm PT.
