Softball Earns 6-5 Comeback Win Over Belmont In Game Two Of Doubleheader

Thursday, March 6

Riverside, CA

2:30 pm

UC Riverside

11-9

Belmont

5-9

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

Photo by: Gabriel L. Acosta

Softball Earns 6-5 Comeback Win Over Belmont In Game Two Of Doubleheader

3/6/2014 3:03:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Riverside - The UC Riverside Softball Team erased a five-run, fourth-inning deficit Thursday afternoon, sweeping a double header from visiting Belmont with a 6-5 victory (box score).

The Bruins put runners on in each of the first three innings, but UCR starter Ashley Ercolano was able to work out of the jams thanks in part to some poor base-running decisions by Belmont.

All that changed in the fourth, however, as the Bruins worked Ercolano for three base hits, an error, a hit batter and a pair of walks. When the dust settled, Belmont had the Highlanders in a 5-0 hole.

UC Riverside rallied in the bottom of the third, and in the process taught fans and players the nuances of the dropped third strike rule. The Highlanders loaded the bases with two outs, and Sommer Wilson swung at strike three, but the catcher couldn't hang on to the ball. In that scenario, the batter immediately becomes a runner and the ball is live. Had the Bruins catcher stepped on the plate or thrown to a base, the inning would have been over, but she failed to do so thinking the inning was already over.

That breathed life into the UC Riverside offense, and the next batter, pinch-hitter Kaylie Atkinson, ripped a pitch back up the box that hit the Bruins pitcher in the foot. The ball carromed into right field allowing two more runners to score, cutting the Belmont lead to two, 5-3.

Two innings later, the Highlanders chased Belmont starter Taylor Moon scoring three more runs to take a 6-5 lead. Shylene Helms led off the inning with a double to left, and moved to third on a single to left by Natalie Sanchez. Following a ground out by Stephanie Tickemyer that moved pinch-runner Sam Hernandez from first to second, Marissa Escalante delivered a pinch-hit single up the middle plating two, and tying the score at five.

UC Riverside wasn't done, however. Katie Clancy came on in relief of Moon, and immediately threw a wild pitch which moved Escalante up 60 feet. Two batters later, Karina Romero singled down the right field line scoring Escalante with the Highlanders sixth run of the day.

UC Riverside now hosts the Highlander Classic Friday-Sunday at Amy S. Harrison Field in Riverside. Participating teams include San Diego, Idaho State, and Utah State.