Riverside, Calif.— The UC Riverside Softball Team (23-11) defeated the University of San Diego (19-15) in the final game of the series 6-4 on a three run walk-off homer by junior Hannah Rodriguez. Despite trailing in the bottom of the 7th, the Highlanders would again find late game success and win their final non-conference game.
In the final matchup of the three-game series with the Toreros, both senior Tayler Misfeldt and freshman Hailey Dolcini graced the circle and the Highlander's two-headed monster got thee job done as a committee. Dolcini got the start pitching four innings and only allowing one earned run on four hits, and Misfeldt would take over in the 5th inning allowing no earned runs and grabbing her 13th win of the season.
"It's great to see that these two can come together and find a way to win for us," Head Coach Nikki Palmer said. "We love that they can get the job done so well."
Both teams got on the board in the 1st inning as USD took an early 1-0 lead but the Highlanders would quickly ice the game at 1-1 as freshman Seanna Garewal hit an RBI single to drive in senior Jenna Curtan.
The Toreros added a second run in the next inning, but UCR would trade runs again as Curtan crossed home plate for the 2nd time thanks to a RBI double from junior Brittney Garcia.
The Highlanders would take their first lead in the bottom of the 5th on a hard hit single by Hannah Rodriguez that drove Curtan across for her third run of the day and put UCR up 3-2. The senior center fielder was truly effective for UC Riverside going 3-for-4 and touching home three straight times.
"Jenna is an amazing athlete, an incredible leader, and really puts the team first," Palmer said. "When you add in how great of a hitter she is, you see how helpful she is to this program."
The Toreros threatened to sweep the Highlanders as they scored two runs with two outs in the top of the 7th forcing UCR's bats to decide the outcome. The Highlanders would rise to the occasion.
Junior Amanda Lynch led off the inning with a double to left-center and freshman Bayleigh Heineman would come on to do the running. Heineman would advance on a groundout by Curtan, putting the tying run just 60 feet away. Garewal was next drawing a walk to put the winning run on 1st and bring Rodriguez back up to bat with one out. On the 2-0 pitch Rodriguez unloaded on a high fast ball and sent it over the left-center wall to give UCR the 6-4 walk-off win.
Rodriguez was an offensive force for the Highlanders going 3-for-4 with four RBIs and one run scored.
"All of our players bring a lot to the table for us," said Palmer. "You love to see when they get the chance to step up in a big moment."
The non-conference slate is now finished for the Highlanders and they will hit the road to open up Big West play this weekend at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (16-13). UCR will face the Mustangs in a three-game series starting this Friday at 1:00 PM in San Luis Obispo, CA.
