Northridge—The UC Riverside Softball Team (21-8) split their two games in Mizuno Classic hosted by CSUN. The Highlanders fell, 4-2, in the first game of the day against Idaho State, and in the second game of the day they knocked off Yale, 5-3.
IDAHO STATE 4, UC RIVERSIDE 2 In the first game of the day, the Highlanders were defeated by Idaho State, 4-2.
UCR got on the board in the top of the first, with an Erika Campbell single that brought in Maddie Richard. In the third, Richard would score again on a Jenna Curtan groundout to make it a, 2-0 game.
Kaylynn Pierce issued three straight one out walks to load the bases in the bottom of the third, before she was relieved by Tayler Misfeldt. Misfledt retired the first batter she faced for a second out, but then allowed an infield hit that scored two Vandals to tie the game, 2-2.
Idaho State scored the go-ahead run in the fourth, when Hayes tripled with one out and scored when she beat Haley Harris' throw home on a groundball. They would tack on a fourth run with lead-off solo shot to right field in the top of the fifth inning.
The Highlanders were retired in order in the sixth and seventh, as the Vandals held on for the 4-2 victory.
UC RIVERSIDE 5, YALE 3In the second game of the day, Natalie Sanchez went 3-for-3, including two doubles to help UCR defeat the Yale Bulldogs for the third time this season.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a, 1-0, lead on a sac fly in the top of the first. In the home half of the inning, the Highlanders responded with three runs. Sanchez doubled in Harris with one out, before Chelsey Holley stepped to the dish and had a double of her own that scored Sanchez and Jenna Curtan. Curtan reached on a passed ball after striking out.
Maddie Richard drew a walk in the second inning, and then stole second base, before being moved over to third on a Harris fly out to center. Richard came in to score on a passed ball to make it a three-run game, 4-1.
Yale scored two in the top of third, when they got a two-out two-run double that chased Kaylynn Pierce in favor of Tayler Misfeldt, who induced a groundout by the first hitter she faced.
In the fifth, Curtan singled, stole a base and scored on a passed ball to put UCR up, 5-3. Misfeldt would allow just two hits over the final four and a third for her Big West leading 12th win of the season.
The UC Riverside Softball team will host a one day round-robin event with Loyola Marymount and UNLV tomorrow. The Lions and Rebels kick-off the day at 9:30 am, followed by the Highlanders against LMU at noon and the Rebels will challenge the home team at 2:30 pm.
