Riverside, Calif.- The UC Riverside Softball Team (12-6) kicked off its second home tournament, the 2018 Highlander Classic, with a 4-1 win over Saint Mary's College (4-14) on Friday.

The Gaels got on the board early taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but senior pitcher Tayler Misfeldt (9-2) would shut them out the rest of the game, allowing zero earned runs and just six hits while striking out eight. With her 9th win of the season, Misfeldt extends her all-time wins record to 46.

The Highlanders trailed until the bottom of the fifth, when they exploded for three runs to take control of the game. With the bases loaded, Rebecca Faulkner earned a walk, bringing shortstop Emma Ramelot home for UCR's first run of the day.

Soon after, with the bases still loaded, Chelsea Holley reached on a Gael error, allowing Britney Garcia to give the Highlanders a 2-1 lead. Sophomore right fielder Karter Williams followed that up with a single up the middle, adding another run from Sarah Parten to make it 3-1.

In the bottom of the sixth, center fielder Jenna Curtan capped the Highlanders' scoring efforts. After reaching second with a double through the left side, Curtan would steal third and would come around to score on another Saint Mary's error.

The Highlanders outhit the Gaels 8-6 on the day, led by Williams (2) and Garcia (2).

UC Riverside will be back in action tomnorrow at 2:00 PM as the Higlanders face the Stony Brook Sea Wolves for the second game of the 2018 Highlanders Classic.