Saturday, May 4
Northridge, CA
2:00 pm
UC Riverside
at
Cal State Northridge
Photo by: Gabriel L. Acosta
Softball To Battle Matadors In Three-Game Series Starting Saturday
5/1/2013 8:18:00 AM | Softball
Northridge, CA—The UC Riverside Softball Team has won its last two games and will look to keep that momentum moving forward with a three-game Big West Conference series at Cal State Northridge on May 4-5. Saturday's doubleheader gets underway at noon PT with Sunday's finale also slated for 12 pm. Live Stats.
The Highlanders won two of three from Cal Poly this past weekend earning their first conference series victory of the year. After a 2-0 loss to the Mustangs in game one, UCR rebounded for an 8-0 victory in the nightcap, and picked up a 3-2 win in the rubber match (watch the highlight video of the weekend).
Kayla White upped her team-leading batting average to .356, and now ranks fourth in the league in that category. In Big West games only, White is third in the conference at .429.
Cal State Northridge has lost three of its last four contests but is 7-6 over the past 13 games. Mikayla Thielges leads the Matadors with a .331 batting average while Korrine Randazzo is the only other player hitting above .300.
A year ago, UC Riverside swept CSUN for the first time 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. Overall, the Matadors own a 28-5 record against the Highlanders. View Results.
GAME NOTES
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN
The Highlanders have stolen 82 bases this season, setting the new Division I program record in the process. UCR ranks 29th in the nation in stolen bases per game, with Ariel Shore ranking 56th individually in that category (national rankings thru games played 4/28).
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.
V FOR VICTORY
UC Riverside took its first conference series of the season winning two of three games against Cal Poly on April 25-26. A year ago, the Highlanders won three league series against Cal State Northridge, Cal Poly, and Cal State Fullerton.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kayla White earned Big West Conference Field Player of the Week honors on March 18 for games played March 11-17. The senior outfielder lead the Highlanders to a 6-2 week while batting .545 and slugging .909 with 10 runs scored and seven RBI. White is the first UCR player to earn the league's weekly honor since Jessica Vasser was named player of the week on April 23, 2012.
RUN HOME JACK
There is no secret to the Highlanders success in Big West play: in the team's three wins, they are averaging 6.3 runs a game. In losses, though, that average is just 1.9 runs a game. And in those losses, UC Riverside has scored just three or more runs twice, and has been shut out four times.
WRONG WAY STREAK
UCR's 10-game losing streak from March 17 - April 6 is a season-high and the longest since a 10-game drought to end the 2010 season.
APOLLO 11
The Highlanders scored 11 runs in a 14-11 loss to Long Beach State on March 29—the most runs scored in a loss since since a 13-11 defeat by Boise State on February 25, 2011. The 14 runs allowed is a season-high and the most since Michigan State scored 15 against UC Riverside on March 6, 2012.
DOUBLEMINT GUM
UCR opponents have scored 10 or more runs on back-to-back occasions twice this season: Hawai'i scored 16 and 12 runs respectively on April 5 and 6, while Long Beach State scored 14 and 10 runs in a doubleheader on March 29. This marks the first time since February 25 and 27, 2011 when Boise State and UNLV garnered 13 and 10 runs respectively.
NOT SO SWEET SIXTEEN
Hawai'i scored 16 runs against UC Riverside on April 5—the most allowed since UC Davis plated 17 on April 30, 2011.
GONE STREAKING
UC Riverside's six-game winning streak from March 10-13, 2013 is the longest streak in the program's Division I history. The previous high was five, set on multiple occasions most recently during the 2012 season.
WALK THIS WAY
Ashley Ercolano hit a three-run walk-off home run for UCR in its win against Weber State on February 23. Prior to Ercolano's shot, the last Highlanders player to record a walk-off homer was Kaylie Atkinson, who drilled a shot against Idaho State on Feb. 25, 2012.
FEELING A LITTLE RANK
UCR faced off against three ranked opponents in consecutive games on two occasions this season: at the Campbell/Cartier Classic on February 15-17, and at Hawai'i April 5-6. The three games are 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 won four games by the mercy rule, but have been mercy ruled nine times by opponents.
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.
The Highlanders won two of three from Cal Poly this past weekend earning their first conference series victory of the year. After a 2-0 loss to the Mustangs in game one, UCR rebounded for an 8-0 victory in the nightcap, and picked up a 3-2 win in the rubber match (watch the highlight video of the weekend).
Kayla White upped her team-leading batting average to .356, and now ranks fourth in the league in that category. In Big West games only, White is third in the conference at .429.
Cal State Northridge has lost three of its last four contests but is 7-6 over the past 13 games. Mikayla Thielges leads the Matadors with a .331 batting average while Korrine Randazzo is the only other player hitting above .300.
A year ago, UC Riverside swept CSUN for the first time 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. Overall, the Matadors own a 28-5 record against the Highlanders. View Results.
| Highlanders vs Matadors Game Capsules | ||
| UC Riverside | Cal State Northridge | |
| 2013 Record & Stats | 19-30, 3-15 | 21-29, 7-11 |
| Roster | Roster | |
| Schedule | Schedule | |
| Conference | Big West | |
| Current Streak | W 2 | L 1 |
| Most Recent Box Score |
W, 3-2 vs Cal Poly |
L, 6-5 at UC Santa Barbara |
| Next Opponent |
5/10 at UC Santa Barbara |
5/10 at Cal State Fullerton |
| Top Hitter |
Kayla White
Senior .356 BA |
 Senior .331 BA |
| Top Pitcher |
Alyssa Razo
Sophomore 4.28 ERA 9-12 Record |
 Senior 2.98 ERA 10-11 Record |
| DI Record vs. | 28-5 | |
| DI Current Streak vs. | W 4 | |
| Projected Highlanders Lineup | ||||||||||
| (By Position) | ||||||||||
| Pos | # | Name | Yr | B/T | Avg | OBP | SLG | H | RBI | SB |
| C | 6 | Alexis Pickett | Sr. | L/R | .256 | .333 | .325 | 30 | 16 | 6 |
| 1B | 17 | Marissa Escalante | Fr. | R/R | .268 | .381 | .371 | 26 | 14 | 2 |
| 2B | 11 | Nicolette Lujan | So. | R/R | .228 | .283 | .239 | 21 | 4 | 3 |
| 3B | 16 | Brittanie Akey | Fr. | R/R | .221 | .294 | .265 | 25 | 15 | 1 |
| SS | 20 | Natalie Sanchez | Fr. | R/R | .218 | .316 | .366 | 22 | 14 | 1 |
| RF | 19 | Dionne Anderson | Jr. | L/R | .299 | .401 | .380 | 41 | 16 | 19 |
| CF | 4 | Kayla White | Sr. | R/R | .356 | .389 | .644 | 53 | 30 | 18 |
| LF | 7 | Ariel Shore | Sr. | L/R | .304 | .344 | .358 | 45 | 7 | 24 |
| DP | 9 | Ashley Ercolano | Fr. | R/R | .244 | .283 | .378 | 33 | 27 | 2 |
GAME NOTES
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN
The Highlanders have stolen 82 bases this season, setting the new Division I program record in the process. UCR ranks 29th in the nation in stolen bases per game, with Ariel Shore ranking 56th individually in that category (national rankings thru games played 4/28).
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.
V FOR VICTORY
UC Riverside took its first conference series of the season winning two of three games against Cal Poly on April 25-26. A year ago, the Highlanders won three league series against Cal State Northridge, Cal Poly, and Cal State Fullerton.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kayla White earned Big West Conference Field Player of the Week honors on March 18 for games played March 11-17. The senior outfielder lead the Highlanders to a 6-2 week while batting .545 and slugging .909 with 10 runs scored and seven RBI. White is the first UCR player to earn the league's weekly honor since Jessica Vasser was named player of the week on April 23, 2012.
RUN HOME JACK
There is no secret to the Highlanders success in Big West play: in the team's three wins, they are averaging 6.3 runs a game. In losses, though, that average is just 1.9 runs a game. And in those losses, UC Riverside has scored just three or more runs twice, and has been shut out four times.
WRONG WAY STREAK
UCR's 10-game losing streak from March 17 - April 6 is a season-high and the longest since a 10-game drought to end the 2010 season.
APOLLO 11
The Highlanders scored 11 runs in a 14-11 loss to Long Beach State on March 29—the most runs scored in a loss since since a 13-11 defeat by Boise State on February 25, 2011. The 14 runs allowed is a season-high and the most since Michigan State scored 15 against UC Riverside on March 6, 2012.
DOUBLEMINT GUM
UCR opponents have scored 10 or more runs on back-to-back occasions twice this season: Hawai'i scored 16 and 12 runs respectively on April 5 and 6, while Long Beach State scored 14 and 10 runs in a doubleheader on March 29. This marks the first time since February 25 and 27, 2011 when Boise State and UNLV garnered 13 and 10 runs respectively.
NOT SO SWEET SIXTEEN
Hawai'i scored 16 runs against UC Riverside on April 5—the most allowed since UC Davis plated 17 on April 30, 2011.
GONE STREAKING
UC Riverside's six-game winning streak from March 10-13, 2013 is the longest streak in the program's Division I history. The previous high was five, set on multiple occasions most recently during the 2012 season.
WALK THIS WAY
Ashley Ercolano hit a three-run walk-off home run for UCR in its win against Weber State on February 23. Prior to Ercolano's shot, the last Highlanders player to record a walk-off homer was Kaylie Atkinson, who drilled a shot against Idaho State on Feb. 25, 2012.
FEELING A LITTLE RANK
UCR faced off against three ranked opponents in consecutive games on two occasions this season: at the Campbell/Cartier Classic on February 15-17, and at Hawai'i April 5-6. The three games are 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 won four games by the mercy rule, but have been mercy ruled nine times by opponents.
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.
Day in the Life: Leilani Juan
Monday, May 04
UCR Student-Athletes cheer on our students.
Friday, May 01
UCR Athletics Director Introductory Full Press Conference
Tuesday, March 24
Athletics Director Greg Paules Introductory Presentation Recap
Tuesday, March 24
