RIVERSIDE , Calif. – Going undefeated in all five games over the weekend, the University of California, Riverside (UCR) women's softball team posted a pair of wins Sunday (March 8) in its annual UCR Classic softball tournament at the Amy S. Harrison Field on the UCR campus.
 
UC Riverside (13-12) opened with an improbable come-from-behind, nine-inning 9-8 win over the visiting Southern Utah University Thunderbirds (5-14),
 
Each team scored twice in the second inning before the visitors exploded for six runs in the top of third inning for an 8-2 lead. 
 
But little did the onlookers realize that the Highlanders had the Thunderbirds right where they wanted them. 
 
UCR tallied twice in the fifth thanks to a RBI single by freshman SS Marissa Burk (Fontana, Calif. / Fontana HS), which plated senior RF Danielle Ortega (Granada Hills, Calif. / Bishop Alemany HS), who lofted a one-out bloop double to get the hosts started. Burk scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore DP Jantzen Owen (Covina, Calif. / Charter Oak HS) as UCR crept to within 8-4.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, the Highlanders parlayed five hits and two wild pitches into four runs and had the then-potential winning run thrown out at the plate on a would-be sacrifice fly.
 
With the international tiebreaker in force during extra innings, junior C Kennedi Sorensen (Valencia, Calif. / New Mexico State U.) was placed at second base to open the bottom of the ninth. Sophomore LF Nadia Witt (Keizer, Ore. / McNary HS) and senior DP Melanie Olmos (Riverside, Calif. / Grand Terrace HS) were each walked intentionally to load the bases and set up a potential force play at any base. A fielder's choice forced Sorensen out at home plate, before freshman 2B Lauryn Garewal (Banning, Calif. / Banning HS) lofted a sacrifice fly to center field to plate Witt with the winning run.
 
Senior RHP Jacy Boles (Roseville, Calif. / Woodcreek HS), who entered the game in relief of Olmos to start the top of the second inning, worked the final 8.0 innings as she tossed 157 pitches (100 strikes). She allowed eight runs (only 2 earned runs) on 12 hits and five walks, but struck out nine as she improved her record to 3-3.
 
In the nightcap dubbed the "Crosstown Showdown", UCR blanked the visiting California Baptist University (CBU) Lancers (10-14), 8-0, in a run-rule shortened game (to five innings). UCR broke a scoreless tie with a six-run third inning before adding two scores in the fifth to end the game.
 
In the third inning, Burk (two-run double), Witt (two-run single) and a two-run home run by senior DP Sarah Parten (Bellflower, Calif. / Mayfair HS) were the big blows for UCR.
UCR tallied a pair of unearned runs in the fifth for the 8-0 final score.
 
The Highlanders received another solid pitching performance as starting sophomore RHP Chrys Hildebrand (Yorba Linda, Calif. / Esperanza HS) went the distanced (5.0 innings) and scattered three hits, walked none and struck out three to improve to 4-1.
 
Fourth-year UCR head softball coach Nikki Palmer continues to exude optimism about her charges.
 
"We swung the bat really, really well," said Palmer. We saw pinch hitters take advantage of situations."
 
And then there was the comeback against Southern Utah.
 
"I loved the 'fight' in our team in game one (Sunday)," continued Palmer. The resiliency to come back and win it; they showed really good energy today." 
 
And near the halfway point of the season with 25 games played and 26 left to be played, Palmer is pleased with her team's progress.
 
"We're in a good place right now," added Palmer.
 
With the cancellation of Tuesday's home game against Cal Baptist, Palmer will turn her attention to Dartmouth College (Hanover, N.H.) which visits UCR for a non-conference double header on Sunday, March 15, beginning at 1 p.m.
 
"Dartmouth seems to have pitching and likes to run," continued Palmer. "We're looking to shut down the run game."
 
While in Southern California, the Big Green will participate in the CSUN/LMU Tournament with games against Idaho State and U. San Diego (Saturday, Mar. 14), at UCR (Sunday, Mar. 15), at Cal Baptist (Monday, Mar. 16) and at CSU Northridge (Tuesday, Mar. 17) before returning home to open Ivy League play against Columbia (March 21-22).
 
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In Sunday's opening game, Southern Utah (5-13) came back from deficits of 7-1 and 9-2 as it scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth and added two runs in the seventh to shade the California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB) Roadrunners (1-13), 10-9.
 
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Through 25 games, UCR (13-12) is batting a robust .317 as a team with a team earned run average of 3.98. Witt, who was 11 of 16 over the weekend with six runs and five RBI, has taken over the team lead in batting at .389 (26 for 72) with 14 runs scored and 14 RBI. Next is Burk at .364 (24 of 66) with 15 runs scored, six doubles and 12 RBI. Sorensen leads with seven home runs and 17 RBI, followed by Parten with four circuit clouts and 15 RBI.
 
In the pitching department, Hildebrand is 4-1 with a 2.16 ERA in 32-1/3 innings with 30 strikeouts and only six walks.