CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. - UC Riverside continued to test itself against the best of the best in college softball at the nationally prominent Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, but fell short in Friday's lone game against No. 3 Florida, 7-0. 

Lauryn Garewal immediately put UCR in business with a leadoff single down the left field line and advanced to second on an error by the Gators' left fielder, but UCR was unable to muster any run support with a runner in scoring position. Taylor Burdette went 2 for 3 and put another runner in scoring position in the top of the fifth. Gigi Araki worked a full count into a walk and Burdette moved her over to second on a 1-1 single up the middle. 

Nadia Witt tried the Highlanders' luck again in the sixth with a leadoff double as the Highlanders continued to put pressure on the number three team in the nation less than 24 hours after a dramatic extra-inning win over Texas Tech. 

Brooke Perez entered the circle in relief with 5.0 innings of work, collecting three strikeouts while Emma Falen pitched in a strikeout as well in 1.0 innings of work. 

UC Riverside will finish out the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic on Saturday night with a 8:00 p.m. first pitch against No. 24 Kentucky.