MANOA, Hawaii - Saturday in Hawaii was a tale of two parts of a series-ending doubleheader for UC Riverside, with the Highlanders going into extra innings for the third time in four games.
Gigi Araki represented her home state once more with three RBIs in game one and Marissa Burk homered for the second consecutive series, but the Highlanders dropped both games of doubleheader 8-7 and 8-1 at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
The Highlanders' offense wasted no time getting going in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, as Burk scored from third on a fielder's choice in the top of the first after being hit on the first pitch of the game. The freshman extended her hit streak to six games an inning later, bringing home Allison Troche on her fourth double of the year.
Araki showed out for her home state once more in the sixth inning with a three-run homer to center field on a 3-2 pitch. It was her second home run of the season and her second, third and fourth RBI of the series. It was also Araki's second go-ahead home run in as many weekends, as the blast put the Highlanders up 5-3.
Hawaii's late push meant UCR would go to extra innings for the third time in their last four outings. Katherine Montuya sent a 2-1 pitch over the right field fence to give UCR a 7-5 lead in the eighth inning.
Burk played early offensive catalyst for the second time of the day in game two, homering to center field on the second pitch of the game.
Montuya and Burk are currently riding seven-game hit streaks. Montuya's is one short of an eight-game streak she enjoyed earlier this year from March 14 to the 28th. Araki is enjoying a stretch of four straight games with a hit, finishing the series with five hits, four RBIs, a run and a home run.
After recording a total of four hits in her first nine games, Araki has now amassed nine hits in her last seven gamesÂ
