Riverside, CA –The UC Riverside Softball Team picked up a pair of wins Tuesday, 12-5 against Iona, and 5-4 versus Bryant on Amy S. Harrison Field.
In the first game the of the day, the Gaels put up three runs in the top of the first on three hits.
The Highlanders responded in the second with an RBI single by Jenna Curtan, a Brittney Garcia scamper home on a passed ball, followed by a Chelsey Holley RBI double.
Iona retook the lead in the third on two-run homer after a lead-off walk. Anessa Cepeda then came in relief of starter Tayler Misfeldt
UCR brought three runs in the home half of the inning on two hits, highlighted by a two-run double from Holley returned the lead to the Highlanders, 6-5.
In the fifth, Garcia homered with Hannah Rodriguez aboard to make it an 8-5. The Highlanders tacked four more in the bottom of the sixth, before Cepeda closed the door retiring the Gaels in order for her fourth win of the year.
Maddy Richard set the tone from the start of the second game of the day against the Bryant. Richard drew a lead-off walk. stole second, then third, and came on Haley Harris"single down the left field line.
They would add another in the second on Holley sac fly. In the third UCR starter Jacy Boles was puled after allowing four runs in the third.
in the fifth, Richard reached on a lead-off walk and scored on a Jenae Lockwood sac fly. Sarah Parten then stepped and doubled to left. Danielle Ortega pinch ran for Parten and moved over to third on a Rodriguez single.
With Garcia at the plate, Coach Palmer dialed up a delayed double steal that saw Rodriguez take second and Ortega score the tying run.
Cepeda continued to keep the Bulldogs off the board ushering the Highlanders into the bottom of the seventh tied at four apiece. Lockwood lead off the inning with an infield hit, before Parten singled her over to second. Rodriguez then laid down a sac bunt that moved not runner up a base.
With two outs, Curtan hit a groundball deep in the hole at short, which allowed Lockwood to score the game-winning run as Parten slid in ahead of the throw at third to allow the run to count.
Cepeda notched her second win of the day in two and a third innings of work. Richard finished with two hits, two runs scored, and two stolen bases.
UC Riverside concludes the homestead with a double-header against Quinnipiac at 11 am.
