Riverside, Calif.— The UC Riverside Softball Team (15-6) capped off the 2018 Highlander Classic Sunday morning sweeping the tournament with a 4-0 record after defeating Brown 12-3 and Saint Mary's (CA) 11-0. The matchups with the Bears and the Gaels ended in five innings.

Over the weekend, the Highlanders outscored their opponents 31-5 and have now improved their home record to an impressive 9-2 after winning seven of their last eight tournament games. After starting the season with a 2-3 record, UCR has found success going 13-3 since that point.

"We focus on one game at a time and respect every opponent," Head Coach Nikki Palmer said. "This mentality has gotten us to where we need to be this season."

Over the 4-game weekend, senior Jenna Curtan truly stood out as she led the team in batting average (.889), slugging (1.222), OBP (.929), runs scored (7), hits (8), total bases (11), and doubles (3). The Highlander's center fielder went 8-for-9 in the tournament and only recorded one out in her 14 plate appearances.

Freshman Hailey Dolcini was a huge contributor on the defensive end during the tournament as she went 2-0 over the weekend with a 0.90 ERA after allowing just six hits in 10 innings. 

BROWN UNIVERSITY

The Highlanders opened the final day of the tournament with a matchup against Brown. After trailing 3-1 in the 2nd inning UCR would score 11 unanswered runs, including an 8-run 3rd inning, to defeat the Bears 12-3 and end the game in the 5th.

After allowing three earned runs in the first two innings, senior pitcher Tayler Misfeldt (10-0) would find her rhythm, shutting out the Bears for the rest of the afternoon and not allowing any hits in her final two innings in the circle. This was enough to gather her 10th win of the season and add six more strikeouts to her career total.

In the bottom of the 1st the Highlanders trailed 2-0, but would cut the lead in half as junior shortstop Hannah Rodriguez came around to score on a wild pitch.

UCR would take its first lead just one inning later despite Brown having scored again to go up 3-1. Freshman Seanna Garewal would hit a single that brought in sophomore Karter Williams and senior Chelsey Holley to tie the game. During the play the Bears would make an attempt to throw out Garewal, which allowed Curtan to reach home for UCR's first lead 4-3.

The 3rd inning would turn out to be an offensive clinic for the Highlanders as they scored eight runs on five hits. Williams was the first to get a run on the board in this inning as she drove in junior Brittney Garcia on a single. UCR would then load the bases for Rodriguez who hit a single of her own to drive in two more runs. After two batters drew walks to get on base, sophomore Emma Ramelot would grab two more RBI's for the team with another Highlander single. Leading 9-3, Garcia would grab the fifth hit of the inning as she singled to score two more. Holley would cap off the game bringing in UCR's 12th run on a ground out.

Rodriguez, who just returned this weekend from injury, had a great offensive outing as she recorded a hit, two runs, two RBIs, and two stolen bases.

"Hannah is a tremendous athlete and we are glad to have her back," said Palmer. "When someone goes down we always have someone to step up and help out, but Hannah is a huge part of our team."

SAINT MARY'S
After defeating the Gaels 4-1 just two days prior, the Highlanders improved their performance in their second matchup shutting out SMC 11-0.

UCR lead 2-0 after three innings but took control in the 4th inning putting up nine runs on eight hits.

Freshman pitcher Hailey Dolcini picked up her second straight winning in Sunday's game against Saint Mary's as she made a relief appearance in the 3rd inning. Dolcini entered the game with zero outs and two Gaels aboard, but would get out of the jam striking out two batters and getting a pop-up to 3rd. The freshman only gave up one hit in this outing, while striking out three.

"[Dolcini] is a really gritty player that works hard and is really supported by her teammates," Palmer said. "To see her come out and take care of business isn't surprising, it speaks to her character and growth."

UC Riverside would again get on the board early as Seanna Garewal hit a stand-up triple and would come home on the next play thanks to a ball put into play by Hannah Rodriguez.

Up 1-0 in the 3rd, the Highlanders would add one more as Garewal grabbed an RBI of her own, bringing in Jenna Curtan on a double to make the score 2-0.

UCR would cap off their scoring efforts in the tournament with a nine run 4th inning where the team gathered eight total hits. With the bases loaded, senior Jenae Lockwood would bring on one run on a single that reloaded the bases. Karter Williams would extend the lead to 4-0 as she walked to bring in a run. The bases would continue to be loaded after Curtan singled to scoree Garcia from the third and the Highlanders would take a 6-0 lead after Garewal drew a walk to add another run. Rodriguez would grab two more RBIs on a well hit single down the right line and two more singles by Lockwood and Sarah Parten would give UCR an 11-0 victory.

Garewal was a bright spot for the Highlanders in the final game of the tournament going 2-for-2 with a walk, a triple, a double, two runs scored, and two RBIs.

2018 UCR CLASSIC
The Highlanders will be back in action this Thursday with a doubleheader against Boise State to kick-off the 2018 UCR Classic. The first match is set for 12:00 PM at Amy S. Harrison Field in Riverside, CA.