Fresno—The UC Riverside Softball Team (7-6) split their final two games of the Fresno Kickoff Classic. The Highlanders won 5-4, over Kansas on a Jenna Curtan walk off home run in the bottom of the seventh and fell 4-3 to #24 Fresno State, also in the bottom of the seventh, when they allowed a bases loaded walk to end the game.

In the first game of the day, the Highlanders defeated the Kansas Jayhawks, 5-4—running their winning streak to three games. Kansas jumped out to three run lead, getting a run in the first and two in the second inning.

UCR got on the board in the fourth, with a three run rally started by a Jenna Curtan leadoff walk. Following a Chelsey Holley single and Stephanie Tickemyer getting hit by pitch to load the bases, Alexis Lockwood drew a walk to put the Highlanders on the board. Courtnie Ploesch then came to the plate and singled up the middle to score Holley and Tickemyer, tying the game at 3 all.

In the fifth, Curtan tripled to lead off the inning and scored on a sac bunt by Tickemyer to give UCR a, 4-3 lead. Kansas scored the game tying run in the top of the seventh on a double to center with one aboard.

Curtan came to the plate to start the bottom of the seventh and launched a game winning homerun over the fence in right center, her second of the season. Kaylynn Pierce (2-3) got the win, going the final six innings after relieving Tayler Misfeldt in the second.(box score)

In the second game of the day, the Highlanders stuck first, bringing across two runs in the first inning on a sac bunt by Curtan, scoring Maddie Richard, and a throwing error by the pitcher that allowed Haley Harris to score.  

Ploesch tripled with one out in the second, before Hannah Rodriguez drove her in with a single up the middle to give UCR a, 3-0 lead.

The Bulldogs responded in the bottom half on the second with a two-run single and in the fourth they scored one run on two hits to tie the game, 4-4.

In the bottom of the seventh, Fresno State got a leadoff triple. Misfeldt retired the next hitter on a groundout, before issuing a walk. The next hitter flied to right field, but a strong throw to the plate from Ploesch held the runner in place at third with two outs.

The home team then stole second base, forcing Misfeldt to intentionally walk the next hitter to keep the forceout in play, but loading the bases. Miseldt threw three straight balls, before working the count full with a series of fouled off pitches, but the Fresno State hitter took a pitch just out of the strike zone to walk in the winning run.(box score)

A win over #24 Fresno State would have been the first victory over a top 25 opponent since 2010, when UCR beat #5 UCLA, 3-2.

Maddie Richard went 11 for 19 on the weekend and stole six bases in seven attempts to lead the Highlanders.
 
The UC Riverside Softball will host the Amy S. Harrison Classic February 26-28, with their next game Friday at 2 pm versus North Dakota.