RIVERSIDE, Calif. – UC Riverside opened Big West play on Saturday afternoon at Amy S. Harrison Field with an impressive doubleheader split with reigning conference champion Long Beach State, falling 9-7 in extras in game one before evening the series with a 9-8 win in game two. 
 
Now winners of three of its last four, UCR's battle mentality faced top talent right off the bat in the first weekend of Big West competition and lived up to the name. 
 
"One thing I love about this team is how gritty we are," head coach Nikki Palmer said. "They never give up, never quit and they keep fighting together. I love seeing how they keep punching back offensively. I know we're going to have another hard-fought battle against a tough opponent tomorrow, so some good sleep and strong attack tomorrow will be necessary to get the win."
 
The Highlanders got off to fast starts in both games of the doubleheader, jumping out to a 5-0 lead in the first game on back-to-back two-run home runs from Max Ortega and Gigi Araki. The duo registered RBIs in game two as well. 
 
Long Beach State punched back with six runs over the next two innings before Marissa Burk tied things up with a solo home run in the fifth inning. UCR plated a run in extra innings, but it wasn't enough to grab the series-opening win. 
 
UCR duplicated its hot start in game two, but were treated to different results. The Highlanders put up their second consecutive five-run inning of the day, using a five-spot in the third to go up 7-3.
 
Lauryn Garewal went 2 for 4 with three runs and an RBI in the win, while Haylee Kela enjoyed a 4-for-4 outing with a pair of RBIs. 
 
The Beach made things interesting with four runs in the fifth, but UCR thwarted another Long Beach comeback to tie the series. 
 
UC Riverside will go for the series win tomorrow at Amy S. Harrison Field with a 1:00 p.m. first pitch. Tickets for Sunday's rubber match and all home games can be purchased at highlanderstickets@universitytickets.com.