FULLERTON, Calif. – UC Riverside capped off a record-breaking regular season by making a little more history, ending conference play with the third-best record in the Big West despite falling in both games of Saturday's doubleheader at Cal State Fullerton.
This marks the first time that the Highlanders (33-22, 10-11) have ended the year in the top-four of the conference standings, let alone the top-three.
GAME ONE
The Titans (33-23, 18-3) would jump on the Highlanders early in the second contest of the weekend, posting six runs on six hits in the bottom of the first. UCR would be held to two hits in the game, both coming from senior Jenae Lockwood who went a perfect 2-for-2.
Unfortunately for the Highlanders, hopes of a late comeback would be cut short as the Titans extended their lead to 8-0 through three innings. The five-inning loss put an end to UCR's six-game win streak, the longest Big West win streak in program history.
Earning the start was senior pitcher Tayler Misfeldt (17-11), who tallied one strikeout to increase her career total to 383.
GAME TWO
The final game of the regular season would need eight innings to decide, eventually going Fullerton's way in a tightly contested 2-1 decision.
Lockwood was once again the Highlanders' top hitter, going for two hits for the second straight game, this time on four at bats. Her first hit of the day – a single up the middle in the top of the first – would also see her record an RBI as she brought home senior Jenna Curtan from third. Lockwood ends the season on a seven-game hit streak. Four of the seven games saw her record multiple hits.
Despite Fullerton enjoying an 11-to-6 advantage in hits, freshman pitcher Hailey Dolcini (14-9) would manage to keep things close, holding the Titans to just a single run through seven innings. However, timely hitting in the bottom of the eighth saw Fullerton escape with the narrow 2-1 victory.