UC Riverside
19-14
Loyola Marymount
16-11
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC Riverside | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 15 | 0 |
| Loyola Marymount | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 4 |
Softball Pounds Out 15 Hits In 9-7 Win Over Loyola Marymount
3/22/2014 1:48:00 PM | Softball
The Highlanders (19-14) dropped their first game of the day to Dartmouth Saturday morning (recap), but rebounded with an offensive onlsaught that avenged an earlier season loss to the Lions (16-11).
UCR fell behind in the first inning, though, as LMU plated three runs after Meghan Harman homered with two on base. The Highlanders countered, scoring a pair of runs in each of the second and third innings to go up 4-3.
In the second, there were runners on second and third with one out for Kaylie Atkinson, who singled through the left side to drive in one. After an out, Taylor Wright singled to right field to send home the second run and cut the Loyola Marymount lead to 3-2.
The next inning, Dionne Anderson singled, and came home after Karina Romero's single plus subsequent LMU error allowed Romero to advance all the way to third. Natalie Sanchez then laid down a sac bunt to score Romero as the Highlanders took a lead they would not relinquish.
After a scoreless fourth and fifth for both clubs, UCR scored five runs in the sixth to take a 9-3 advantage.
Stephanie Tickemyer led off with a single, and scored on Atkinson's double to center field. Wright then singled to put runners on the corners, and a wild pitch by LMU moved each runner a base for UCR's second score of the inning.
Pinch-hitter Marissa Escalante kept the offensive streak going by blasting a homer to clear the bases, 8-3. With two outs and runners at first and second, Ashley Ercolano singled down the right field line to plate the Highlanders final run of the inning.
UC Riverside's six run lead would prove important as the Lions scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to close to 9-7.
Back-to-back walks put two runners on for Amanda Dirks, who doubled to bring the first run across. A fielder's choice then scored the second run, and Stephanie Maciel homered for the third and fourth runs. Fortunately the Highlanders got the next two batters out to end the threat from the Lions, but the lead was cut to just two.
UCR tried to get a couple of those runs back in the seventh, but could not convert its baserunners, leaving two on.
In the bottom of that frame, Alyssa Razo came on to pitch, and earned the save allowing just one single during the inning to seal the win for UC Riverside. Sophie Slagle was credited with the win for the Highlanders, while Rachael Farrington took the loss.
Wright went 4-for-4 from the plate while three other Highlanders players recorded multi-hit games.
UC Riverside now prepares for the start of Big West Conference play hosting Hawai'i in a three-game series on March 28-29 at Amy S. Harrison Field in Riverside.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Slagle, Sophie (4-5)
L: FARRINGTON (2-5)
S: Razo, Alyssa (1)
Batting:
2B: Atkinson, Kaylie 1
HR: Escalante, Marissa 1
RBI: Romero, Karina 1 ; Sanchez, Natalie 1 ; Ercolano, Ashley 1 ; Atkinson, Kaylie 2 ; Wright, Taylor 1 ; Escalante, Marissa 2
SH: Sanchez, Natalie 1 ; Tickemyer, Stephanie 1 ; DeAnda, Kris 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Anderson, Dionne 1 ; Romero, Karina 1 ; Helms, Shylene 1 ; Harris, Haley 1 ; Ercolano, Ashley 1 ; Tickemyer, Stephanie 1 ; Atkinson, Kaylie 1 ; Wright, Taylor 1 ; Escalante, Marissa 1
SB: Anderson, Dionne 1
CS: Hernandez, Samantha 1
HBP: Ercolano, Ashley 1
Batting:
2B: DIRKS, A. 1 ; CLOWDUS, N. 1
HR: HARMAN, M. 1 ; MACIEL, S. 1
RBI: HARMAN, M. 3 ; DIRKS, A. 1 ; CRIST, S. 1 ; MACIEL, S. 2
SH: SANDOVAL, B. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: LOPEZ, A. 1 ; FINIE, A. 1 ; HARMAN, M. 2 ; MONROE, A. 1 ; CRIST, S. 1 ; MACIEL, S. 1
