Davis, Calif— Saturday, the UC Riverside Softball Team (26-19, 3-8) fell in its conference doubleheader to UC Davis (24-16, 6-5) as the Aggies took game one 3-2 and game two 5-2.
GAME ONE
UC Davis took the first game of the series 3-2 in extra innings on the back of a 12-hit performance that gave the Aggies three late-inning runs.
Pitcher Hailey Dolcini started in the circle for the Highlanders pitching a total of 6 innings as the freshman played into the 5th inning, before being replaced by senior Tayler Misfeldt, and then reentering in the bottom of the 7th to get the Highlanders out of a jam. In Dolcini's 6 IP the freshman gave up three runs, while striking out five.
The first game of the series remained scoreless until the top of the 6th inning where the Highlanders broke the tie on a couple of strong at-bats. In her first game back from injury, sophomore Danielle Ortega hit a single up the middle on a 3-2 count and was then moved over to 2nd on a well-placed bunt by senior Jenna Curtan. Junior Hannah Rodriguez was next to the plate delivering on a 1-2 count with an RBI single to give UCR a 1-0 lead.
The Aggies would retaliate in the bottom of the 6th scoring two runs of their own to take the lead 2-1.
Trailing in the top of the 7th with one out, Head Coach Nikki Palmer made the call to bring in senior Chelsey Holley to pinch hit for the Highlanders and it would pay off as Holley crushed a solo homerun to left field, icing the game at 2-2.
The game would head to extra innings where the Aggies would seal it 3-2 on a run scored in the bottom of the 8th.
The Highlanders spread out their five hits among five players as Jenae Lockwood went 1-for-2 and Chelsey Holley went 1-for-1 with a solo homerun.
GAME TWO
The Highlanders would strike first in game two taking a 2-0 lead in the 3rd inning. Hannah Rodriguez poked a single into right field and was moved to 2nd on a ball put into play by sophomore Sarah Parten. With two outs, sophomore Emma Ramelot put UCR on the board with an RBI double and Chelsey Holley added her second RBI of the day driving in Ramelot on a single.
The Aggies would answer in the bottom of the 3rd with three runs of their own to take the lead. UCD then added six more in the middle innings to take the game 9-2.
Sophomore Jacy Boles made a solid relief appearance for UCR tossing 1.2 scoreless innings allowing just two hits and zero walks.
Eight different players registered a hit in game two including doubles by both Ramelot and senior Rebecca Faulkner.
Holley was a bright spot on the overall day for the Highlanders going 2-for-4 with a homerun, a single, 2 RBI, and a walk. Danielle Ortega added two hits and a run in her first game since February 19th.
The Highlanders are back in action tomorrow for game three at 1:00 PM at La Rue Field.
