Bakersfield—For the second game in a row the Highlanders went into extra innings, and for the second game in a row the UC Riverside Softball team prevailed in the eighth. They scored two runs in the top of the eighth for a, 3-1, win at Cal State Bakersfield.
Reigning Big West Pitcher of the Week Tayler Msifeldt was involved in a showdown in the circle with Roadrunners ace Ashley Mills.
Both pitchers were dominant, keeping zeros on the board frame after frame until the top of the sixth. Maddie Richard led off the inning with a bunt single, stole second and forced a throwing error to third base in an attempt to pick her off. She would come in on the errand throw for the game's first score.
In the bottom of the seventh, Bakersfield drew a one out walk, advanced the runner to second on a groundout to Misfeldt. With two out the team's leading hitter Julea Cavazos came to the plate and singled to tie the game at one apiece. Misfeldt struck out the next hitter to send the game to extra innings, the second game in a row the Highlanders.
Jenae Lockwood was placed on second base to start the inning via the international tiebreak rule. Lockwood moved over to third on a Courtnie Ploesch sacrifice. After Ploesch was caught stealing second base for the first out of the inning, Hannah Rodriguez stepped into the box. Rodriguez, who had walk-off hits in the two previous games, would once again deliver as she laced a 2-2 offering into right field, scoring Lockwood for what would be the game-winning run.
UCR would add an insurance run, thanks to Jenna Curtan, who legged out an infield single that scored Rodriguez to make it a 3-1 game. The first hitter for the Runners grounded to third, Lockwood would force the runner back to second and fire to Haley Harris, who applied the tag that cut down the lead runner at second base. With a runner on first and one out Misfeldt induced two straight groundouts to the sure handed Harris to end the game.
Richard had her fourth straight three-hit game and stole two bases. Misfeldt earned her 18th win of the season with her second straight eight-inning performance, and Rodriguez drove in the game-winner for third game in a row.
The Highlanders resume Big West play at home Friday, against Hawai'i at 3 pm.
