Softball Rebounds From Eight Inning Loss To NIU, 5-1, To Defeat Iona, 6-2

Friday, March 15

Riverside, CA

1:30 pm

UC Riverside

13-14

Northern Illinois

8-16

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

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

Photo by: Gabriel L. Acosta

Softball Rebounds From Eight Inning Loss To NIU, 5-1, To Defeat Iona, 6-2

3/15/2013 4:22:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Box Score—Northern Illinois 5, UC Riverside 1 (8 innings)

Box Score—UC Riverside 6, Iona 2

Riverside, CA—The UC Riverside Softball Team had its six-game winning streak snapped Friday afternoon in the first game of the Highlander Classic, falling 5-1 to Northern Illinois in eight innings. UCR responded in the nightcap, though, defeating Iona, 6-2, at Amy S. Harrison Field.

Tied at 1-1 after seven innings, NIU put a four-spot on the board in the top of the eighth to take a 5-1 lead. With runners at second and third with one out, Nicole Gremillion singled to left field to plate both runners. After an out, Shelby Miller homered to left field to put the Huskies on top by four runs.

UCR had runners on first and second with no outs in the bottom of the eighth, but Marissa Escalante lined into a triple play, and both runners were called out as the game ended with Northern Illinois earning the victory.

But it was the Highlanders who got on board first, as Ariel Shore scored on a Kayla White single in the first inning. Neither team got runs across over the next three frames until Ashley Kopp hit a solo home run in the fifth for NIU, tying the game at 1-1.

UC Riverside was retired in order in both the sixth and seventh innings, while the Huskies left three runners on during those frames before the game went into extra innings.

Alyssa Razo was saddled with the loss for the Highlanders, tossing all eight innings and striking out four. Jessica Sturm earned the win for NIU giving up the one run in eight innings of work.

In the second game, neither team got a run across until the fourth, when Iona strung together some hits to make it a 1-0 game. UC Riverside responded that inning, as Alexis Pickett led off with a single, and after moving to second on a sac bunt, was brought home on a single from White.

White then stole second, and advanced to third on a throwing error by the Gaels catcher. Escalante hit a fly ball into the outfield, allowing White to score to put UCR on top, 2-1.

Iona threatened in the fifth by loading the bases with one out, and got one across to tie the game at 2-2. But the Highlanders again responded, scoring four runs to go up 6-2.

With one out, Esteban singled to left center, and stole second to move into scoring position. Dionne Anderson then reached on an error, and advanced to second as Esteban came home to score. Anderson stole third, and after Shore was walked and stole second, Pickett laid down a squeeze bunt scoring Anderson to make it a 4-2 ballgame.

The Highlanders weren't done, as Ercolano's RBI ground out plated Shore, and White's single to center field scored Pickett, increasing the lead to 6-2.

Iona was retired in order in the sixth, but in the seventh, the Gaels put two runners on with two outs, but a final out ended the threat and the game as UCR took the victory.

Ercolano earned the win in the circle in relief, while Jordan Courage was saddled with the loss for the Gaels.

The Highlander Classic continues on Saturday, but UCR does not return to action until Sunday, playing both Iona and NIU for a second time. First pitch against the Gaels is scheduled for 9 am PT at Amy S. Harrison Field.