BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - UC Riverside started its final weekend of the season on Friday with a doubleheader sweep of CSU Bakersfield at the Roadrunner Softball Complex, cruising to 16-1 and 6-1 wins.

The 16 runs tied a program single-game record set earlier this season in a 16-0 win over Cal Poly and secured UCR's first winning record in Big West play since 2015.

"Today was a good day. We had everything come together on defense and offense, and pitching was phenomenal all day," head coach Nikki Palmer said. "I'm really proud of our hitters for staying in it, being patient and waiting for their pitch."

Chrys Hildebrand was one out shy of perfection in the series opener, recording her 11th complete game of the season with 11 strikeouts to pass Christin Singer for second on UCR's Division I career strikeout list. 

Lauryn Garewal went 1 for 2 with three runs and two RBIs in game one, while Jantzen Owen, Kat Montuya and Nadia Witt recorded two hits apiece. Garewal and Haylee Kela homered on back-to-back pitches in a nine-run third inning. 

UC Riverside was nowhere near done doing damage at the plate however, putting six runs across in the fourth inning to seal the Highlanders' sixth run rule victory of 2022 and UCR's largest margin of victory against Bakersfield in program history.

Included in the six-run frame was Max Ortega going yard for a three-run homer to make it 16-0, the third time the Highlanders have racked up three home runs in a game this season.

The Roadrunners took an early 1-0 lead in game two on a double steal in the third inning, but UCR responded quickly.

Ortega led off the fourth inning with a single to right center, followed by a Jantzen Owen double to quickly put two UCR runners on the base path with no outs. Ally Troche singled into right center on an 0-2 pitch to bring Ortega home and tie the game at one. 

A Taylor Burdette single put the Highlanders ahead 2-1 with no outs, and UCR went on to score five runs in the frame on six hits after back-to-back RBI doubles from Kela and Garewal. Burdette went 3 for 4 in game two with a run and an RBI.

UC Riverside and CSU Bakersfield will play both teams' season finales on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. from the Roadrunner Sports Complex, and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.