SAN DIEGO - UC Riverside opened the Campbell Cartier Classic on Friday at the SDSU Softball Stadium, dropping a 6-1 contest to Oregon and 7-4 decision to San Diego State. 

Grace Pieson saw her first collegiate start in the circle in the tournament opener against the Ducks, but it was short-lived after giving up two earned runs and four walks despite picking up her first collegiate strikeout as a starter. 

UCR struck first against Oregon in the second inning, as Max Ortega wheeled to third on a Marissa Burk bunt before scoring on an error by the Ducks' pitcher. Ortega led off the inning with a double to right field, but that's all the offense the Highlanders could muster against the nationally-ranked Ducks. 

Game two against the Aztecs was more of a battle for the Highlanders, who picked up their offense in the fourth inning after San Diego State went ahead with a quick start. Haylee Kela broke up the shutout with her second home run of the season on a 1-2 pitch to left field, while UCR capitalized on an SDSU error an inning later to narrow the gap. 

Ortega and Burk were clutch once more, this time in the sixth inning with Ortega raking an RBI triple before coming home on Burk's double. 

UCR will pick it back up on Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m. against Utah Valley.