Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Riverside- UC Riverside Softball moves to 8-4 on the season after a pair of wins Friday afternoon on the first day of the Amy S. Harrison Classic. The Highlanders started off the day with a offensive fresnzy, topping Michigan State, 9-2. They concluded with a 6-5 victory over Utah State in nine innings.

The Highlanders stepped on the diamond ready to compete with Big Ten member Michigan State. Chelsea Ponce took the mound, throwing five innings, finishing with five strikeouts and recording a win. She was relieved by freshman Rebecca Faulkner, who closed out the game, earning her third save on the year.

UCR's offense could not be tamed in the sixth inning, as the Highlanders recorded five hits for six runs, including a home run by Faulkner that scored half the runs for the inning. It is Faulkner's first home run for the blue and gold.

With just a thirty minute intermission the Highlanders were back on the field taking on Utah State for the final game of the day. Starting on the mound for UC Riverside was Tayler Misfeldt, striking out three before Alyssa Razo took over in the circle. After three innings, Razo was replaced by Faulkner, who in the seventh hitting was hit in the chest by a line drive but recovered to throw the runner out at first. Ponce closed out the game, moving her season record 7-2 and an era of 0.85.

Down 6-5 in the bottom of the ninth and Stephanie Tickemyer on second, the Highlanders went to work. Taylor Wright moved Tickemyer to third on a sacrifice bunt. Tickemyer then scored on a single up the middle by Jenna Curtan. Curtan then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error to second by the catcher. Curtan on third and Karina Romero reaching on a single to first base, Sommer Wilson stepped up to the plate hitting a walk-off single to right field.

In the first game of three today, Michigan State run ruled Utah State nine to one in five innings.

The Amy S. Harrison Classic begins day two Saturday Feb. 21 at 9:00 am PT with Sand Diego taking on Utah State. The Highlanders will take the field at 2:00 pm PT for a second meeting with Utah State.