LA JOLLA, Calif. - UC Riverside started a six-game road trip by scoring five unanswered runs after falling behind 7-0, but it was too little too late in a 7-5 loss to UC San Diego on Friday night at Triton Softball Stadium. 

The Highlander offense was slow-going to start the weekend, but Kat Montuya roped a first-pitch leadoff double into left for the aggressive start to the inning that broke up a potential no-hitter. Montuya has now doubled in all but two of UCR's Big West series this season, including her last three. 

Nadia Witt put UC Riverside on the board in the top of the sixth, also with an extra-base hit. Witt tripled to bring in Lauryn Garewal and Rebeca Cabezas. The Highlanders had taken full advantage of a Triton pitching change after UC San Diego pulled its starter.

Witt recorded her fourth multi-RBI game of the season and second of Big West play, both of which have come away from Riverside. Taylor Burdette sent a 1-0 pitch out of the yard for a three-run shot in the seventh. 

UC Riverside returns to Triton Softball Stadium on Saturday for a doubleheader to round out the series, starting at 1:00 p.m. on ESPN+.