Softball Defeats Idaho State 3-2 But Falls 7-4 In 8 Innings To S. Dakota

Saturday, February 25

Riverside, CA

11:30 am

UC Riverside

3-9

Idaho State

3-12

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Idaho State	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	5	1
UC Riverside	0	0	2	0	0	0	1	3	5	2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
South Dakota	0	0	0	1	0	2	1	3	7	10	1
UC Riverside	1	0	0	1	2	0	0	0	4	9	3

Photo by: UCR Athletics Media Relations

Softball Defeats Idaho State 3-2 But Falls 7-4 In 8 Innings To S. Dakota

2/25/2012 11:59:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Box Score - UC Riverside 3, Idaho State 2

Box Score - South Dakota 7, UC Riverside 4 (8 innings)

Riverside, CA - The UC Riverside softball team split a pair of games on Saturday, defeating Idaho State 3-2 on a walk-off home run, but falling 7-4 in eight innings to Idaho State at Amy S. Harrison Field on day two of the aTen Construction Tournament.

Taylor Alvarez got the starting nod in game one, but had some control issues early walking three of the first four batters. However, the freshman from Canyon Lake was able to get out of the inning unscathed thanks in part to a great defensive catch from centerfielder Kayla White.

Meanwhile, Idaho State pitcher Amanda Fitzsimmons had a perfect game through two innings, retiring all six batters in order.

UC Riverside finally got baserunners in the bottom of the third, as both Alvarez and Alexis Pickett drew walks to open the frame. Alaina Thomas sac bunted both runners over, and White's sac fly to right field scored the first run of the game.

Ariel Shore then laced a single up the middle, earning the RBI as Pickett touched home plate for the 2-0 lead.

The Highlanders almost had the game wrapped up with two outs in the top of the seventh, when ISU's Gabby Lopez hit a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch.

Alvarez gave way to Jordyn McDonald in the circle, who gave up a 2-RBI home run to Courtney Dial, tying the game at 2-2.

UCR's first batter in the seventh, Kaylie Atkinson, got another lease on life as Bengal's catcher Vicky Galasso dropped a foul ball. Atkinson took full advantage of a second chance, blasting a walk-off home run over the left field fence to give the Highlanders a 3-2 victory.

McDonald was credited with the win, while Alvarez finished by striking out eight batters in 6.2 innings of work.

In game two, UCR took an early 1-0 after the first inning as Shore came home on Jessica Vasser's sac fly to center field.

The 1-0 margin stayed the same until the fourth inning when South Dakota's Morgan Hancock turned on Amy Lwin's offering and blasted it over the fence, tying the game at one.

UCR regained the lead a half inning later, as Atkinson's double scored Vasser from second.

The Highlanders added two additional runs an inning later. With Shore on first, Brittany Keeney singled up the middle to advance the runner. Vasser then doubled down the right field line, allowing Shore to score.

That prompted a pitching change, but the next batter was walked to load the bases, and Atkinson came through with a sac fly which scored Keeney for the 4-1 lead.

The Coyotes made things interesting an inning later, scoring two runs on two outs. Lwin got the first two batters of the inning out, but allowed four straight singles as the lead was cut to 4-3.

Lwin gave way for McDonald in the circle to start the seventh inning, but McDonald again allowed the tying run to score. The Highlanders failed to score in their respective bottom inning, as the game went into extras.

South Dakota continued its scoring in the eighth, however, loading the bases and eventually scoring three runs on two hits to go up by 7-4.

UCR had runners at first and third with one out in the bottom of the eighth, but could not capitalize as a pop up and a ground out ended the game.

The Highlanders conclude play at the aTen Construction Tournament with a 12:00 pm game against South Dakota on Sunday, February 26 at Amy S. Harrison Field in Riverside.