LA JOLLA, Calif. - UC Riverside made it three wins in their last four games with a 4-3 win in game one against UC San Diego on Saturday, but was forced to settle for a split doubleheader with a 9-1 loss in game two at Triton Softball Field. 

It was a homecoming for Highlanders head coach Nikki Palmer, who played her collegiate softball and served as an assistant coach in La Jolla.

"I'm proud of our grit in game one and how we found a way to get it done as a team," Palmer said. "We just need to bring the same energy and focus tomorrow as we had in game one in order to get the series."

The Tritons went ahead first in game one, but UCR pushed back in the second inning on Allison Troche's first triple of the season that brought home Maiah Motta from first.

Katie Barbarick tossed a clutch second and third inning without allowing a hit, perfect timing for UCR to put runners in scoring position. It wouldn't be until the sixth inning though that the offense would break through. 

Three runs in the final two innings proved to be the defining moments, with Kennedi Sorensen doubling to right center on a 2-1 pitch in the sixth inning. Sorensen's hit resulted in her 13th and 14th RBIs of the season for a 3-2 lead. 

After the Tritons punched back once more in the bottom half of the sixth, Briza Blanco capped off her 3-for-4 performance with an RBI single to left center in the top of the seventh. 

Blanco opened up the scoring in game two by reaching on a fielder's choice to score Katherine Montuya from third, but that was ultimately  UCR's only offense in the back end of the doubleheader.

The Highlanders have now won three of their last five and will face the Tritons once more in Sunday's rubber match. First pitch slated for 1:00 p.m.