Softball Sweeps Buffalo 5-1 and 4-3 On Day Three Of Mizuno Invitational

Sunday, March 10

Riverside, CA

11:30 am

UC Riverside

8-13

Buffalo

3-11

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Buffalo	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	5	0
UC Riverside	1	2	2	0	0	0	X	5	8	2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Buffalo	1	0	0	2	0	0	0	3	7	0
UC Riverside	0	1	1	0	1	1	X	4	9	2

Photo by: Gabriel L. Acosta

Softball Sweeps Buffalo 5-1 and 4-3 On Day Three Of Mizuno Invitational

3/10/2013 2:05:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Box Score—UC Riverside 5, Buffalo 1

Box Score—UC Riverside 4, Buffalo 3

Watch the video recap

Riverside—The UC Riverside Softball Team swept a doubleheader against Buffalo Sunday, 5-1 and 4-3, on day three of the Mizuno Invitational at Amy S. Harrison Field.

In the first game, UCR plated one in the first, two in the second and two in the third to pick up the 5-1 win.

Ariel Shore started it off for the Highlanders in the first with a single and a stolen base. Alexis Pickett then doubled to left center to bring her around for the first run of the game.

The Highlanders continued their scoring in the second when Nicolette Lujan batted in Melissa Sanchez with a single up the middle. Lujan later came around to score to put another run on the board for UC Riverside.

Kayla White extended the Highlanders lead in the third as she belted a two run home run to right center.

Ashley Ercolano kept the Bulls scoreless through six holding the Buffalo batters to only two hits. The Bulls struck in the top of the seventh, though, erasing the Highlanders chance of a shutout.

Karly Nevez singled up the middle and advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. An RBI single by Alexis Curtiss scored Nevez putting one on the board for Buffalo, but Ercolano worked her way out of the jam to close the game and clinch the victory for the Highlanders.

Ercolano struck out one and gave up five hits to earn the win for UC Riverside. Dani Cowan was charged with the loss giving up five runs on seven hits.

In the second game, the Highlanders were down 3-2 in the fifth when Pickett went long for UC Riverside, tying the game at 3-3.

Lujan singled to center to start the sixth for the Highlanders, and after Dionne Anderson was hit by a pitch, Shore was walked to load the bases. Relief pitcher Heather Ryder entered the game for Buffalo, but did not fair any better as she walked Pickett to give UC Riverside the go-ahead run.

The Bulls threatened against UCR starting pitcher Alyssa Razo in the top of the seventh, but were unable to capitalize leaving two runners on base in the loss.

The Bulls jumped out to the early lead in the first when Sammi Gallardo hit a solo home run off Razo.

UC Riverside loaded the bases and tied the game in the second when Ashley Ercolano came in to score off a sacrifice fly from Brittanie Akey.

The Highlanders scored again in the third to take their first lead of the game when Anderson hit one over the center field fence.

The Bulls fought back in the fourth to take the lead scoring two runs on three hits and a UC Riverside error.

Ercolano went 3-for-4 at the plate while Pickett went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI to lead the Highlanders offense.

Razo went the distance for UCR to earn the win, her sixth of the season. Tori Speckman gave up two runs on three hits for Buffalo and was charged with the loss.

UC Riverside will be back in action Monday at 1:30 pm PT when they face off against Southern Utah in a double-header to conclude the Mizuno Invitational.