Saturday, April 14
Riverside, CA
3:00 pm
UC Riverside
vs
UC Santa Barbara
Photo by: UCR Athletics Media Relations
Softball Looks To Get Back To Winning Ways With BWC Series Against Gauchos
4/11/2012 10:48:00 AM | Softball
| Live Stats | Purchase Tickets |
Riverside—The UC Riverside softball team looks to get back into the win column this weekend with a three-game set scheduled against UC Santa Barbara. The Big West Conference series gets underway with a doubleheader beginning at noon on Saturday, April 15, and concludes with a single game on Sunday at 12:00 pm.
The Highlanders have lost four in a row and five of their last six games dating back to the start of league play on March 31. They most recently dropped a three-game series to Pacific, with two of those loses by just a single run. (Watch the video recap).
UC Santa Barbara brings an 18-25 overall record into Saturday's games, including a 3-3 mark in Big West play. The Gauchos have won 26 of 30 games against UCR in the team's Division I history.
UC Riverside Softball also has three special promotions scheduled for this weekend. On Saturday, the team is hosting its annual Breast Cancer Awareness Game, and fans are encouraged to wear pink in support of the cause.
On Sunday, the Highlanders are having a Youth Jersey Day, where kids eighth grade and below wearing a softball or baseball jersey are admitted for free, followed by an autograph session with the team after the game.
| Highlanders vs UC Santa Barbara Game Capsules | ||||||||||||
| UC Riverside | UC Santa Barbara | |||||||||||
|
2012 Stats, Record |
18-20, 1-5 | 18-25, 3-3 | ||||||||||
| Schedule | Schedule | |||||||||||
| Roster | Roster | |||||||||||
| Conference | Big West | |||||||||||
| Current Streak | L 4 | W 2 | ||||||||||
|
Last Box Score |
L, 9-8 vs Pacific |
W, 4-3 vs. CSU Bakersfield |
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|
Next Opponent |
4/21 at Cal State Fullerton |
4/21 vs Pacific |
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|
Top Hitter |
Alexis
Pickett Junior .364 BA |
 Kane Sophomore .297 BA |
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|
Top Pitcher |
Jordyn
McDonald Senior 3.67 ERA |
 Wisdom Freshman 2.71 ERA |
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|
D1 Record Against |
4-26 Results |
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|
D1 Current Streak Against |
W 1 | |||||||||||
| Projected Highlander Lineup | |||||||||
| (By Position) | |||||||||
| Pos | # | Name | Yr | B/T | Avg | OBP | SLG | H | RBI |
| C | 6 | Alexis Pickett | Jr. | L/R | .364 | .439 | .444 | 36 | 19 |
| 1B | 13 | Jessica Vasser | Jr. | L/L | .309 | .469 | .426 | 29 | 14 |
| 2B | 9 | Brittany Keeney | Sr. | R/R | .318 | .381 | .439 | 34 | 12 |
| 3B | 12 | Kaylie Atkinson | Fr. | R/R | .258 | .337 | .393 | 23 | 15 |
| SS | 8 | Yesenia Duenas | Fr. | R/R | .281 | .406 | .298 | 16 | 5 |
| RF | 19 | Dionne Anderson | So. | L/R | .255 | .319 | .349 | 27 | 15 |
| CF | 4 | Kayla White | Jr. | R/R | .328 | .383 | .613 | 39 | 32 |
| LF | 7 | Ariel Shore | Jr. | L/R | .297 | .345 | .369 | 33 | 12 |
| DP | 1 | Halle Luna | Fr. | L/R | .313 | .353 | .313 | 10 | 3 |
GAME NOTES
GONE STREAKING
After dropping nine of their first 10 games, the Highlanders then won 16 of 22. UCR has lost its last four straight, however, and five of six.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES
The Highlanders won 13 games last season, but have already won 18 games in 2012.
ON TOP OF THE WORLD
UCR is 18-20 in 2012, and should they maintain that winning percentage, it would be the highest in the program's Division I history.
| Best Winning Percentage (UCR DI) | |
| 2012 | .474 |
| 2006 | .449 |
| 2010 | .407 |
YEAR OF THE PITCHER
Jordyn McDonald is 8-11 in the pitchers circle this season for the Highlanders, while Taylor Alvarez boasts a 6-4 record. The eight wins by McDonald are just outside the top-5 for most wins in UCR's Division I single-season history, while Alvarez's six wins are one away from breaking into the top-10. Marissa Alvidrez currently owns the record with 15 wins set during the 2010 season.
OFF THE CHARTS
UC Riverside's 16 runs against Eastern Kentucky on March 7 are the most in the Division I history of the program for a single-game total. The previous high was 15, set at Utah State on May 3, 2003.
HOME RUN QUEENS
The Highlanders hit three home runs in each game of their doubleheader on March 7. The three homers are tied for third in a single-game in UCR D-I history.
UC Riverside also had 14 home runs in 32 non-league games in 2012, compared to just two homers in the team's 23 non-conference games a year ago.
CONFERENCE DIVAS
The Highlanders are ranked among the top-three in the Big West Conference in nearly all statistical categories, and lead the league in triples, stolen bases and steal attempts. On the national scene, UC Riverside is ranked 26th in triples per game, and 33rd in stolen bases per game.
| UC Riverside Individual National Rankings (thru 4/8) | ||
| Kayla White | Triples | 11th |
| Kayla White | Triples Per Game | 20th |
| Jessica Vasser | Sac Flies | 24th |
| Ariel Shore | Triples | 30th |
| Jessica Vasser | Walks | 36th |
| Kayla White | Runs Batted In | 78th |
SHOWING NO MERCY
UCR has eight-run, mercy-ruled five opponents so far in 2012—UIC on Feb. 24, South Dakota on Feb. 26, Portland State on Mar. 4, Eastern Kentucky on Mar. 7, and UC Davis on Apr. 1. It is the most since the 2007 squad also mercy ruled five opponents.
ALL-BIG WEST
The UC Riverside softball team placed three players on the 2011 All-Big West Team. Kayla White was named to the first team—just the third Highlanders player in the program's Division I history to gain a spot on the league's top squad—while Kameryn Hebenton and Brittany Keeney were named to the All-Big West Second Team.
COACHING CHANGES
UC Riverside will have two new faces in the dugout this season, as Michell Vlahos joins the Highlanders as an assistant coach, and former player Kameryn Hebenton joins the staff as a volunteer coach.
Thursday, May 21
Monday, May 04
Friday, May 01
Tuesday, March 24
