Highlander Classic Schedule March 9-12, 2017 Amy S. Harrison Field-Riverside, CA

Thursday, March 9 UT Martin vs. UC Riverside @ 12 pm UT Martin vs. UC Riverside-30 min. follow Friday, March 10 Maryland vs UT Martin @ 9 am Maryland vs. Iona @ 11:30 am Weber State vs. Iona @ 2 pm Saturday, March 11  Iona vs. UT Martin @ 9 am Weber State vs. UT Martin @ 11:30 am Maryland vs. UC Riverside @ 2 pm Sunday, March 12 Weber State vs. Maryland @ 9 am Weber State vs. Iona @ 11:30 am Iona vs. UC Riverside @ 2 pm Live Stats All Games

Riverside, CA–The UC Riverside Softball Team hosts the 2017 Highlander Classic at the Amy S. Harrison Field March 9-12.

UCR welcomes UT-Martin, Maryland, Iona and Weber State to the Inland Empire for this year's tournament. The classic begins with a double-header on Thursday against UT-Martin with first pitch slated for 12 pm PT.

The Highlanders (7-8) are coming off a sweep of Detroit-Mercy on Monday, when they got four RBIs from Sarah Parten in a, 7-1 victory in game one, and a walk-off two-run single from Jenae Lockwood in the bottom of the ninth for a 4-3 win in game twp (recap).

UC Riverside has won four of its last five games, and scored an average of 7.25 runs, while allowing 3.25 to opponents in those victories. Solid pitching from Anessa Cepeda (3-0, 0.84 ERA), Haley Marschall (2-4, 4.66 ERA), and Tayler Misfeldt (2-0, 4.40 ERA) has been key to the recent success of Coach Palmer's crew.

Hannah Rodriguez's team-leading .400 batting average ranks second in the Big West, and her 14 hits tops the squad. Maddy Richard has stolen five bases in six attempts, and drawn 11 walks this season—the second most free passes in the league.

UT-Martin—also winners of four out of the last five—is 15-3 in 2017. The Skyhawks rank second nationally in stolen bases per game (3.61), fourth in doubles per game (1.94), ninth in batting average (.358), 10th in scoring (7.33), 13th in on base percentage (.444) and 25th in slugging percentage (.514).

They return nine starters from last season including ace Brooke Kennedy (7-1, 3.60 ERA) and top hitter Renate Meckl (.455).

UC Riverside went 5-0 in last year's Highlander Classic in the midst of an 11-game winning streak.