RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Exhibiting vast improvement from a year ago in every aspect of the sport, the University of California, Riverside (UCR) women's softball team will lift the lid on the 2020 season this weekend when it participates in annual Titan Classic at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 7-9.
Host CSUF meets Middle Tennessee on Thursday, Feb. 6, at 6 p.m. to open the weekend's action. The UCR Highlanders open their season on Friday, Feb. 7, when it faces former Big West Conference (BWC) rival University of the Pacific at 10 a.m. before taking on Middle Tennessee at 12:30 p.m.
UCR continues tournament play on Saturday, Feb. 8, when it battles the San Jose State University Spartans at 10:30 p.m. (on CSUF's field no. 2). The Highlanders conclude tournament play on Sunday, Feb. 9, when they take on the Utah State University Aggies at 9:30 a.m. before meeting the Loyola Marymount University Lions at 12 p.m.
In 2019, UCR finished 26-27 overall, including an appearance in the National Invitation Softball Championship (NISC) regional hosted by Nevada in Reno. The Highlanders were 8-13 in BWC play (sixth place) last season.
UCR head coach Nikki Palmer (UC San Diego '07) enters her fourth season at the helm of the Highlanders and is very optimistic of her charges this season.
"We have more depth this season than we've ever had," beamed Palmer. "We have a lot of good, young talent, including new transfers."
Along with six seniors are two talented freshmen middle infielders, as well as other returnees.
Those six seniors are IF-OF Danielle Ortega (Granada Hills, Calif. / Bishop Alemany HS), IF Emily "Emma" Ramelot (Riverside, Calif. / Martin Luther King HS), P-UTL Melanie Olmos (Riverside, Calif. / Grand Terrace HS), RHP Jacy Boles (Roseville, Calif. / Woodcreek HS), C-UTL Kayla Curtan (Roseville, Calif. / Woodcreek HS) and C-IF Sarah Parten (Bellflower, Calif. / Mayfair HS).
"Ramelot and Olmos will give us a lot of power," Palmer continued.
Second Team All-BWC pick Ramelot smacked a team-leading ten home runs and scored 38 runs, both marks tied for second on the UCR Division I era list, while All-BWC honorable mention Olmos added six HRs (tied for sixth) and 42 RBI (No. 2 in UCR's single season Division I era category).
First Team All-BWC selection Ortega led the Highlanders in regular season batting at .374 (49 hits in 131 at bats).
In the circle, the Highlanders will have no less than a half dozen hurlers from which to choose, including Boles (regular season: 12-9, 4 saves, 159.0 IP, 4.01 ERA, 106 K) and Olmos (regular season: 6-11, 2 saves, 84.1 IP, 3.15 ERA, 41 K).
"We do have six pitchers so, that is a luxury," added Palmer. "Boles and Olmos carried the load last year and (sophomore RHP) Megan Casper (Laguna Hills, Calif. / Laguna Hills HS) is healthy this year." Casper's 2019 regular season stat line was 7-2, zero saves, 66.1 IP, 4.22 ERA, 25 K.
The goals for UCR are always to win the BWC championship and receive a berth in postseason play.
"We're creating a tradition and standard of reaching the postseason," continued Palmer.
Heading into Friday's opener, through three seasons Palmer's overall won-lost record at UCR is 94-73 (.563), 36-42 (.462) in BWC action. Palmer is ably assisted by first-base/batting coach Terry Schweikert (fourth season), pitching coach Cindy Bristow (second season) and first-year volunteer assistant coach Chelsea Johnson.
