Box Score FULLERTON, Calif. – Seeing yet another late lead slip away, the University of California, Riverside (UCR) women's softball team lost a 7-6 decision to the San Jose State University (SJSU) Spartans Saturday, Feb. 8, in the Highlanders only action of the day in the annual Titan Classic at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF)..
 
Once again, the Highlanders (0-3) led early, this time, 2-0, in the top of the first inning, courtesy of a two-run home run by senior designated player Sarah Parten (Bellflower, Calif. / Mayfair HS), who deposited a 1-0 pitch over the left-field fence. Senior 3B Emma Ramelot (Riverside, Calif. / Martin Luther King HS) opened the game by getting hit by the pitch and scored ahead of Parten.
 
SJSU (1-2) answered with single runs in the first and third innings, sandwiched around a two-run second to take a 4-2 lead heading into the top of the fourth. That's when UCR scored four for a 6-4 lead.  
 
Freshman 2B Lauryn Garewal (Banning, Calif. / Banning HS) had a RBI single, junior pinch hitter Karissa Arnold (San Diego, Calif. / Temecula Valley  HS) soon followed with a RBI single as well
Ramelot drew a bases-loaded walk to push across the frame's third run and senior RF Danielle Ortega (Granada Hills, Calif. / Bishop Alemany HS) forced in the final run on a fielder's choice as the Highlanders had three hits and were aided by two errors.
 
The Spartans tallied once in the fourth and twice in the sixth as UCR saw its opponent come from behind and record a win for the third consecutive game.
 
Junior RHP Caitlyn Rivera (Northridge, Calif. / Loyola Marymount U.) came on in relief with two outs in the fifth and allowed two runs (earned) on two hits and struck out two in 1.1 innings to receive her first decision of the season (0-1).
 
Sophomore LF Nadia Witt (Keizer, Ore. / McNary HS) went two for three for UCR. Through three games, Witt, Ortega and junior C Kennedi Sorensen (Valencia, Calif. / New Mexico State U.) co-lead the Highlanders in batting at .300 (three for ten). Sorensen has homered in each of her first two games.
 
UCR concludes tournament play on Sunday, Feb. 9, when it takes on the Utah State University Aggies at 9:30 a.m. before meeting the Loyola Marymount University Lions at 12 p.m.