CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. - UC Riverside returned to the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic on Thursday, opening the tournament with a dramatic 2-0 first day, taking a 7-6 win over Bethune-Cookman before stunning Texas Tech 6-4 in extras.

The dramatic victory over the Red Raiders, while acting as UCR's sixth win over a Power 5 school under seventh-year head coach Nikki Palmer and first since 2020, was a picture-perfect display of the gauntlet the Highlanders were forced to go through on day one. 

"We're excited to continue to elevate our level of play and see our potential live in action here at such a special tournament," Palmer said after the Highlanders snapped Texas Tech's nine-game win streak. "I'm very proud of how our ladies rallied together today and worked so hard to pull out two big wins."

Nadia Witt enjoyed a pair of 2-for-4 outings with four RBIs on the day, but had to help her team survive a scare from Bethune-Cookman first. The grad student spearheaded UCR's offense in the opener with a season-high three RBIs in a rematch of last year's third game at the Mary Nutter. 

The Highlanders were rocked by a five-spot in the bottom of the first, but got back in business on a sacrifice fly from Haylee Kela. Witt came to the rescue once more with a two-run RBI single up the middle to tie things at five apiece. Jackie Alday took a full count over the center field wall for her first collegiate home run, as UC Riverside cemented its lead to survive the opening game scare. 

Brooke Perez entered the circle in relief and shut down a previously upstart Wildcat offense, fanning 12 of 14 batters from the third inning up to the seventh before BCU's seventh-inning rally fell short. 

UCR threatened against Texas Tech right off the bat with loaded bases before not being able to push a run across. Redemption came just two short innings later though, as Marissa Burk singled up the middle to bring home Lauryn Garewal. Garewal led off the inning by getting on base for already a second time against the Red Raiders. 

Texas Tech evened the score in the bottom half, but a popup to short got Maddie Heinlin out of a bases-loaded jam before the Highlanders found themselves in the same scenario that saw Tech go ahead on a three-run home run. 

UCR was forced to play catchup for the second time in as many games on Thursday, but answered the bell accordingly. Witt was clutch once more with the tying RBI double in the seventh before Leah Brito shut the door with a two-run homer to left in the top of the eighth. 

UC Riverside will face an even taller task on Friday afternoon, battling No. 3 Florida at 1:00 p.m. from Cathedral City as the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic continues.