Wednesday, March 13
Riverside, CA
1:30 pm
UC Riverside
vs
Bethune-Cookman
Photo by: Gabriel L. Acosta
Softball Plays Bethune-Cookman Wednesday, Hosts Highlander Classic This Weekend
3/12/2013 9:07:00 AM | Softball
Riverside—The UC Riverside Softball Team continues its 11-game homestand on Wednesday, March 13 playing a doubleheader against Bethune-Cookman beginning at 1:30 pm PT at Amy S. Harrison Field. Live Stats.
This weekend, UCR hosts its third tournament of the 2013 season, the Highlander Classic, on March 15-17. Participating teams are Notre Dame, Iona, Northern Illinois, and the Highlanders. Tournament Page.
The tournament schedule is as follows:
The Highlanders are coming off of a 4-1 weekend at the Mizuno Invitational, sweeping a pair of games against Buffalo and Southern Utah.
Bethune Cookman dropped two games at the Long Beach State Tournament this past weekend, and travels to Loyola Marymount on Tuesday for a doubleheader before heading to the Inland Empire. Wednesday will be the first meeting between UCR and the Wildcats in the program's Division I history.
Northern Illinois lost all five of its games at the Cal Poly Tournament over the weekend, and plays a doubleheader at Cal State Northridge on Tuesday followed by Wednesday meetings against North Dakota State and Loyola Marymount. The Highlanders dropped their only previous meeting with the Huskies, 7-6, back on March 14, 2010 (box score/recap).
Iona plays at San Diego and San Diego State on Tuesday, with a neutral site game against Southern Utah scheduled for Wednesday. The Gaels went 2-3 in their previous tournament, and will face UC Riverside for the first time in the program's DI history on Friday.
Notre Dame swept a pair of games against New Mexico State but lost a one-run game to UC Davis at the ASU Diamond Devil Tournament this past weekend. The Fighting Irish play at Cal State Fullerton on Wednesday and against Arizona on Thursday before making their way to Riverside on Friday.
GAME NOTES
STOP, THIEF!
UCR stole nine bases against Southern Utah on March 11, setting the program's Division I record for most stolen bases in a single game. Dionne Anderson added her name to the UCR record books as she stole four bases that game—the most in a single game in the program's DI history.
SHUTOUT
The Highlanders recorded their first two shutouts of the season at the Wildcat Invitational on March 1-3—1-0 vs Portland State on March 1, and 2-0 vs Boston on March 2. Last year, UCR recorded five shutouts.
WALK THIS WAY
Ashley Ercolano hit a three-run walk-off home run for UCR in its win against Weber State on February 23. The last Highlanders player to record a walk-off is Kaylie Atkinson, who drilled a shot against Idaho State on Feb. 25, 2012.
GONE STREAKING
UC Riverside has two four game winning streaks this season (Feb. 23-Mar. 1, and March 10-11). Last year, the Highlanders accumulated two streaks of four or more wins, including one stretch of five straight wins.
OFF TO THE RACES
The Highlanders won their 2013 season opener against Southern Miss on February 8—the first season-opening victory since 2007.
FEELING A LITTLE RANK
UCR faced off against three ranked opponents in consecutive games at the Campbell/Cartier Classic on February 15-17—the most ranked opponents the team has faced in a row since a three-game series against #21 Cal Poly on May 8-9, 2009.
ERROR MESSAGE
UC Riverside committed five errors in its loss against Fresno State on Feb. 8, the most since April 16, 2011 when the Highlanders recorded six errors.
BREAKING RECORDS
UCR finished the 2012 season with a 25-28 overall record, setting a new program Division I mark for most wins in a season and for best winning percentage.
BRINGING OUT THE BROOMS
The Highlanders sweep of Cal State Northridge on May 5-6, 2012 was the first such sweep over the Matadors in the team's Division I history. The sweep was also the first for UCR in conference play since taking a three-game series from Sacramento State on May 4-5, 2002.
SHOWING NO MERCY
UCR won six games last year by the eight-run mercy-rule—the most times in the program's DI history. This season, they’ve already won two games by the mercy rule, but have been mercy ruled six times by opponents.
BATTER UP
UCR finished the 2012 season with a team batting average of .281— the highest single-season average in the team's Division I history, besting the 2011 squad with a .276 batting average.
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN
The Highlanders stole 73 bases in 2012, 10 more than the program's previous DI record of 63 set in 2011. UCR already has 50 stolen bases in 2013, and rank 28th in the nation in stolen bases per game, with Ariel Shore ranking 57th individually in that category.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES
The Highlanders won 13 games in 2011, but nearly doubled that win total in 2012 with 25 victories. This season, UC Riverside has won 11 games.
OFF THE CHARTS
UC Riverside's 16 runs against Eastern Kentucky on March 7, 2012 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.
CONFERENCE DIVAS
The Highlanders led the Big West Conference last season in triples, stolen bases, and steal attempts while ranking second in batting average, slugging percentage, on base percentage, and RBI. On the national scale, UC Riverside ranked 12th in double plays per game and 44th in both triples per game and stolen bases per game.
COACHING CHANGES
UC Riverside welcomes an entirely new coaching staff to the dugout in 2013. Head Coach Linda Garza was hired in June to lead the program, and named Jodie Cox and Chez Sievers as assistant coaches and Morgan Stuart as a volunteer coach.
ALL-BIG WEST
Four UC Riverside players were selected to the Big West All-Conference Team last season, with outfielder Kayla White garnering All-Big West First-Team awards while Alexis Pickett was selected to the Second Team, and Ariel Shore and Kaylie Atkinson both received Honorable Mention accolades.
This weekend, UCR hosts its third tournament of the 2013 season, the Highlander Classic, on March 15-17. Participating teams are Notre Dame, Iona, Northern Illinois, and the Highlanders. Tournament Page.
The tournament schedule is as follows:
| Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
| Northern Illinios vs Notre Dame at 9:00 am | Notre Dame vs Iona at 9:00 am | Iona vs UC Riverside at 9:00 am |
| Iona vs Notre Dame at 11:15 am | Northern Illinios vs Notre Dame at 11:30 am | Northern Illinois vs UC Riverside at 11:30 am |
| Northern Illinois vs UC Riverside at 1:30 pm | Iona vs Northern Illinois at 2:00 pm | |
| Iona vs UC Riverside at 4:00 pm |
The Highlanders are coming off of a 4-1 weekend at the Mizuno Invitational, sweeping a pair of games against Buffalo and Southern Utah.
Bethune Cookman dropped two games at the Long Beach State Tournament this past weekend, and travels to Loyola Marymount on Tuesday for a doubleheader before heading to the Inland Empire. Wednesday will be the first meeting between UCR and the Wildcats in the program's Division I history.
Northern Illinois lost all five of its games at the Cal Poly Tournament over the weekend, and plays a doubleheader at Cal State Northridge on Tuesday followed by Wednesday meetings against North Dakota State and Loyola Marymount. The Highlanders dropped their only previous meeting with the Huskies, 7-6, back on March 14, 2010 (box score/recap).
Iona plays at San Diego and San Diego State on Tuesday, with a neutral site game against Southern Utah scheduled for Wednesday. The Gaels went 2-3 in their previous tournament, and will face UC Riverside for the first time in the program's DI history on Friday.
Notre Dame swept a pair of games against New Mexico State but lost a one-run game to UC Davis at the ASU Diamond Devil Tournament this past weekend. The Fighting Irish play at Cal State Fullerton on Wednesday and against Arizona on Thursday before making their way to Riverside on Friday.
| Highlanders vs Bethune Cookman & Highlander Classic Game Capsules | ||||||
|
UC Riverside |
Bethune Cookman |
Northern Illinois |
Notre Dame |
Iona | ||
| 2013 Record & Stats | 11-13 | 3-16 | 6-12 | 14-6 | 4-9 | |
| Roster | Roster | Roster | Roster | Roster | ||
| Schedule | Schedule | Schedule | Schedule | Schedule | ||
| Conference | Big West | MEAC | MAC | Big East | MAAC | |
| Current Streak | W 4 | L 5 | L 6 | W 1 | L 3 | |
| Most Recent Box Score |
W, 2-1 vs Southern Utah |
L, 8-5 vs Charleston Southern |
L, 6-5 vs Cal Poly |
W, 5-0 vs New Mexico St. |
L, 2-1 vs Columbia |
|
| Next Opponent |
3/23 at Pacific |
3/18 vs Cornell |
3/27 vs Loyola |
3/23 at Seton Hall |
3/20 vs Temple |
|
| Top Hitter |
Alexis
Pickett Senior .341 BA |
 Banuelos-Smith Senior .354 BA |
 Barnett Senior .357 BA |
 Koerner Sophomore .492 BA |
 Schauer Sophomore .344 BA |
|
| Top Pitcher |
Alyssa
Razo Sophomore 3.50 ERA 6-6 Record |
 Tolbert Junior 5.04 ERA 2-12 Record |
 Sturm Sophomore 3.14 ERA 3-5 Record |
 O'Donnell Senior 1.78 ERA 6-2 Record |
 Courage Freshman 2.52 ERA 1-2 Record |
|
| DI Record vs. | 0-0 | 0-1 | 0-2 | 0-0 | ||
| DI Current Streak vs. | First Meeting | L 1 | L 2 | First Meeting | ||
| Projected Highlanders Lineup | |||||||||
| (By Position) | |||||||||
| Pos | # | Name | Yr | B/T | Avg | OBP | SLG | H | RBI |
| C | 6 | Alexis Pickett | Sr. | L/R | .341 | .444 | .432 | 15 | 10 |
| 1B | 20 | Natalie Sanchez | Fr. | R/R | .208 | .354 | .283 | 11 | 4 |
| 2B | 3 | Meagan Esteban | Fr. | L/R | .164 | .246 | .164 | 9 | 3 |
| 3B | 16 | Brittanie Akey | Fr. | R/R | .158 | .197 | .193 | 9 | 7 |
| SS | 11 | Nicolette Lujan | Fr. | R/R | .231 | .302 | .256 | 9 | 2 |
| RF | 19 | Dionne Anderson | Jr. | L/R | .313 | .416 | .422 | 20 | 11 |
| CF | 4 | Kayla White | Sr. | R/R | .271 | .311 | .471 | 19 | 8 |
| LF | 7 | Ariel Shore | Sr. | L/R | .268 | .307 | .324 | 19 | 3 |
| DP | 9 | Ashley Ercolano | Fr. | R/R | .286 | .372 | .429 | 18 | 11 |
GAME NOTES
STOP, THIEF!
UCR stole nine bases against Southern Utah on March 11, setting the program's Division I record for most stolen bases in a single game. Dionne Anderson added her name to the UCR record books as she stole four bases that game—the most in a single game in the program's DI history.
SHUTOUT
The Highlanders recorded their first two shutouts of the season at the Wildcat Invitational on March 1-3—1-0 vs Portland State on March 1, and 2-0 vs Boston on March 2. Last year, UCR recorded five shutouts.
WALK THIS WAY
Ashley Ercolano hit a three-run walk-off home run for UCR in its win against Weber State on February 23. The last Highlanders player to record a walk-off is Kaylie Atkinson, who drilled a shot against Idaho State on Feb. 25, 2012.
GONE STREAKING
UC Riverside has two four game winning streaks this season (Feb. 23-Mar. 1, and March 10-11). Last year, the Highlanders accumulated two streaks of four or more wins, including one stretch of five straight wins.
OFF TO THE RACES
The Highlanders won their 2013 season opener against Southern Miss on February 8—the first season-opening victory since 2007.
FEELING A LITTLE RANK
UCR faced off against three ranked opponents in consecutive games at the Campbell/Cartier Classic on February 15-17—the most ranked opponents the team has faced in a row since a three-game series against #21 Cal Poly on May 8-9, 2009.
ERROR MESSAGE
UC Riverside committed five errors in its loss against Fresno State on Feb. 8, the most since April 16, 2011 when the Highlanders recorded six errors.
BREAKING RECORDS
UCR finished the 2012 season with a 25-28 overall record, setting a new program Division I mark for most wins in a season and for best winning percentage.
| Best Winning Pct. (DI) | |
| .472 | 2012 |
| .449 | 2006 |
| .407 | 2010 |
| Most Wins (DI) | |
| 25 x | 2012 |
| 22 | 2006 |
| 22 | 2010 |
BRINGING OUT THE BROOMS
The Highlanders sweep of Cal State Northridge on May 5-6, 2012 was the first such sweep over the Matadors in the team's Division I history. The sweep was also the first for UCR in conference play since taking a three-game series from Sacramento State on May 4-5, 2002.
SHOWING NO MERCY
UCR won six games last year by the eight-run mercy-rule—the most times in the program's DI history. This season, they’ve already won two games by the mercy rule, but have been mercy ruled six times by opponents.
BATTER UP
UCR finished the 2012 season with a team batting average of .281— the highest single-season average in the team's Division I history, besting the 2011 squad with a .276 batting average.
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN
The Highlanders stole 73 bases in 2012, 10 more than the program's previous DI record of 63 set in 2011. UCR already has 50 stolen bases in 2013, and rank 28th in the nation in stolen bases per game, with Ariel Shore ranking 57th individually in that category.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES
The Highlanders won 13 games in 2011, but nearly doubled that win total in 2012 with 25 victories. This season, UC Riverside has won 11 games.
OFF THE CHARTS
UC Riverside's 16 runs against Eastern Kentucky on March 7, 2012 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.
CONFERENCE DIVAS
The Highlanders led the Big West Conference last season in triples, stolen bases, and steal attempts while ranking second in batting average, slugging percentage, on base percentage, and RBI. On the national scale, UC Riverside ranked 12th in double plays per game and 44th in both triples per game and stolen bases per game.
COACHING CHANGES
UC Riverside welcomes an entirely new coaching staff to the dugout in 2013. Head Coach Linda Garza was hired in June to lead the program, and named Jodie Cox and Chez Sievers as assistant coaches and Morgan Stuart as a volunteer coach.
ALL-BIG WEST
Four UC Riverside players were selected to the Big West All-Conference Team last season, with outfielder Kayla White garnering All-Big West First-Team awards while Alexis Pickett was selected to the Second Team, and Ariel Shore and Kaylie Atkinson both received Honorable Mention accolades.
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