Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Riverside- The UC Riverside Softball Team moves to 31-12 overall and 3-5 in the Big West after dropping a pair of games to Cal State Fullerton (27-16, 5-3) Saturday afternoon. The Titans took control in game one, topping the Highlanders 12-0 and then won game two after a 12-inning battle, 3-2.

Chelsea Ponce started both games for the Highlanders today striking out 10 and giving up 13 hits in 14.1 innings of work. She is now 23-8 on the season and remains second in the nation in victories. Ponce also registers a 1.28 ERA through 35 appearances this season.

In both games, the Titans wasted no time putting runs on the board, scoring two in the top of the first. Dropping game one, 12-0 is just the fifth time the Highlanders have been shut out in a a total 43 games this season. Cal State Fullerton pushed runs across the plate in every inning except the second and fifth, that included five in the seventh.

After the Titans jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning during the second game of the day, competition turned into a pitchers' duel till the Highlanders were able to score two clutch runs in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings.

In the bottom of the seventh, senior Taylor Wright led things off with a single to center field. She recorded three hits for the day, hitting .429. That brought to the plate Chelsey Holley who moved Wright to second on a single through the left side. Advancing Wright to third was Madeline Richard who reached first on a fielder's choice and ended with Holley being thrown out at second. Lead-off hitter Jenna Curtan and Karina Romero hit back-to-back singles to bring in the two runs.

Competition continued over five more innings until Missy Taukeiaho launched a home run in the top of the 12th. The Highlanders were unable to respond and after three and a half hours the game concluded, 3-2.

The Highlanders are back in action Sunday, April 12 for the final game of the series against the Titans at 12 pm PT.