Box Score Riverside- The UC Riverside Softball Team completed its best-ever season since trasitioning to Division I 15 years ago with a sweep against Cal Poly. The Highlanders sealed the series sweep with a, 3-2 victory on Senior Day Sunday afternoon.
This weekend's victories aided in the Highlanders' first winning record in the Big West and the first time they have swept two series during conference play.
"I'm so proud to coach this team," said Head Coach Lind Garza. "We stuck with the process all year and made things happen. It is a great day to be a Highlander."
Starting in the circle for the Highlanders was senior Alyssa Razo, pitching 1.2 innings in her final debut for the blue and gold. Taking over for Razo and notching her 30th win was redshirt junior Chelsea Ponce, throwing 5.1 innings and allowing three hits in 21 batters faced.
The Mustangs pushed across their only runs in the top of the first inning off a double to right center by Stephanie Heyward that brought around runners from first and second.
The Highlanders responded and took the lead in the bottom half of the third inning. Senior Nicolette Lujan took one for the team with a hit-by-pitch, for the first runner to reach in the inning. Next up, Jenna Curtan took advantage of a miscue by the Mustangs' defense, reaching on the error and advancing Lujan to second. With runners on first and second, Maddy Richard hammered out a single to third, loading the bases for Natalie Sanchez.
Sanchez launched a long fly ball to right field, earning an RBI by scoring Lujan. A throwing error during the play scored Curtan from second for the Highlanders second run of the inning. Senior Karina Romero brought around UCR's final run of the game, hitting a single up the middle and scoring Richard.
A pitcher's battled ensued the rest of the way as Ponce and Cal Poly's ace Sierra Hyland gave up a combined four hits for the remainder of the game.
The Highlanders honored six seniors prior to today's action including Razo, Lujan, Romero, Kris DeAnda, Kaylie Atkinson, and Taylor Wright.
