Riverside, CA–Freshman Sarah Parten drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the UC Riverside Softball Team a, 6-5, victory over UTEP, and earn a split on day two of the Amy S. Harrison Classic.

The Highlanders jumped out to a 5-0 lead after scoring in each of the first four innings, including two in the third. Tayler Misfeldt kept the Miners off balance until the fifth inning, when they put up three runs on three hits to make it a two-run game, 5-2.

In the sixth, UTEP manufactured a pair of runs to knot things up at 5 apiece. Neither team was able to push a winning-run across in seventh, sending the game into extra innings. According to the international tie-break rule, the player who made the final out from the previous inning is placed on second to start the inning.

The Miners sacrificed over Clayton to third in their first at bat, but Anessa Cepeda shutdown the threat retiring back-to back batters end the inning. In the UCR half of the eighth, Danielle Ortega began on second base. The Highlanders showed plate discipline by working deep into counts, but still made outs on their next two at bats, and appeared to be on their way to the ninth.

Chelsey Holley drew a walk, and was followed by Sommer Wilson, who was hit by a pitch loading the bases. Coach Palmer inserted Parten in favor of Maddy Richard in the crucial situation. Parten worked the count full before declining to offer on a pitch just off the plate for ball four, and the a 6-5 victory.

Richard had a two-run single and scored a run. Rebecca Faulkner had a pair of RBI singles, and Cepeda was credited with the win.

UC Riverside fell to Utah State, 5-1, in the second game of the day. They'll face Siena at 9 am Sunday, before taking on the Aggies in the tournament finale at 2 pm.