Box Score CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – Concluding its competition in the annual Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic (MNCC) softball tournament, the University of California, Riverside (UCR) women's softball team lost to the Oregon State University (OSU) Beavers, 8-5, at the Big League Dreams Des Moines Field.
What began as a 16-team affair in 2004, now boasts 30 teams and 74 games over the four-day weekend (Thursday through Sunday).
It's been said that if it wasn't for the last minute nothing would get done. And if it wasn't for UCR's opponents' last inning, the Highlanders (6-9) wouldn't have as many as nine losses.
And such was the case Saturday evening (Feb. 22) as UCR rallied from deficits of 2-0, 4-3 and 5-4, only to watch OSU push across three runs in the bottom of the sixth for the final score of 8-5.
Spotting the Beavers a 2-0, first-inning lead, the Highlanders responded with a three-run outburst in the top of the second inning, thanks to a three-run home run to left field by junior C
Kennedi Sorensen (Valencia, Calif. / New Mexico State U.) to lead, 3-2.
After watching OSU (9-5) bounce back with two tallies in the second to take a 4-3 lead, UCR opened the third with two walks and a base hit to load the bases with one out. Freshman 2B
Lauryn Garewal (Banning, Calif. / Banning HS) drew a RBI walk to force in a run, tying the game at 4-4.
In the bottom of the third, the Beavers scored once to retake the lead at 5-4. UCR tied the game at 5-5 in the top of the sixth on a solo home run by senior 3B
Emma Ramelot (Riverside, Calif. / Martin Luther King HS), her first round tripper of the season. Ramelot would finish two for four in the game.
UCR starting sophomore RHP
Megan Casper (Laguna Hills, Calif. / Laguna Hills HS) went the first
5-1/3 innings, allowing seven runs (five earned) on nine hits (four doubles, one home run) and four walks as her record fell to 0-4.
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UCR continues its season next weekend, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, February 28, 29, and March 1, when it hosts the annual Amy S. Harrison Classic. Other participating teams are the University of Montana (UM) Griz, the University of Nebraska, Omaha (UNO) Mavericks and the Michigan State (MSU) Spartans. Three games will be played each day, one each at 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Amy S. Harrison Field.
