LOS ANGELES, Calif.— The Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament came to a close Sunday afternoon for the UC Riverside Softball Team as the Highlanders fought all weekend through a tough stretch of games that featured some of the best competition in collegiate softball. On the final day, UCR would drop both of its games to Fresno State 12-0 and No. 1 UCLA 17-3.
FRESNO STATE
The matchup with the Bulldogs was a tough outing for the Highlander offense as batters only reached base safely on two occasions.
Junior pitcher Melanie Olmos would earn the start for UCR, and after giving up a three-run first inning, calmed down and found her rhythm blanking FSU for the next two innings.
The Bulldog bats got going again in the final three innings and the team's defense would hold on to take the game 12-0.
Junior Britney Garcia registered the sole hit in the game knocking in a bloop single.
No. 1 UCLA
The matchup with the Bruins saw a lot of positive takeaways as after a tough first inning, freshman pitcher Megan Casper was able to keep her composure and find her rhythm against the best team in the nation. Including her last out of the first inning, Casper would retire nine straight Bruins and allow just one more run in the final four innings of play, while striking out three.
After wrapping up the first inning, the Highlander offense responded immediately in the top of the 2nd as junior Emma Ramelot walked to plate and took the first pitch she saw 10 feet over the left field wall for the team's first home run of the year.
UC Riverside's bats would get going again in the fourth inning as senior Brittney Garcia worked her second single of the day poking a ball through the right side and moving a pinch runner a freshman Raena Robinson to second. Both players would then advance on a ground out before being brought in on a huge double to right center from junior Melanie Olmos.
The Bruins wold add their final run in the bottom of the fourth before taking the game 17-3.
UC Riverside will look to bounce back this Wednesday at CBU before hosting its first of four straight home tournaments.
