Box Score Tuscon, AZ- The UC Riverside Softball Team concluded the Wildcat Invitational, hosted by Arizona, Sunday morning with a 2-1 win over UTEP. The Highlanders went 4-1 overall at the tournament, falling only to No. 15 Arizona.

At 16-5 overall the Highlanders are off to their best start since to 2006 season when UC Riverside also won 16 of its first 21 games.

Pitching all seven innings for the Highlanders today was Chelsea Ponce, recording six strikeouts and giving up just two hits. With a record of 11-3 so far this season, Ponce ranks fourth on the Highlanders single-season record for most wins. The record for most wins in a single-season is held by Marissa Alvidrez who registered 15 wins during the 2010 season.

UCR notched four hits during today's game, two of which coming from third baseman, Taylor Wright. Haley Harris and Karina Romero added a hit each for the Highlanders. Harris leads the squad with 24 hits through 21 games this season.

The Highlanders were the first to strike, taking an advantage of an error by UTEP and putting the game's first run across the plate. UTEP would not go quietly scoring its only run the very next inning. In the bottom of the fifth, Wright doubled to left field and scored on a single hit by Romero.

The Highlanders return to the diamond Friday, Mar. 6 as they host Howard, UNC Greensboro, and Loyola Marymount in the Highlander Classic.