FULLERTON, Calif. - UC Riverside mounted a seventh inning rally on Thursday night at Anderson Family Field but dropped a 4-2 series opener to Cal State Fullerton.  

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Fullerton opened the scoring in the first inning, but UCR pulled a run back in the third on Nadia Witt's 11th RBI of the year, scoring Elise Nishimura.  
• Nishimura worked a four-pitch walk to lead off the frame before swiping second and later coming around to score. 
• Emma Falen made her fifth start of the season and first of Big West play. Briza Blanco relieved Falen in the circle, collecting three strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work. 
• UC Riverside put itself in prime position to tie the series opener once more in the top of the fifth. The Highlanders loaded the bases with a trio of singles – two coming in the infield – but were unable to push the tying run across. 
• Witt did her duty once more with a second RBI on the night in the seventh, but it was too little too late after the Titans had scored two in the sixth.  

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS 

• UC Riverside has now stolen a base in six of its last eight games. 
• Witt sealed her eighth multi-hit game of the season with her fifth inning single.  
• Nishimura, who entered the weekend with just four runs to her credit, recorded her first collegiate multi-run outing with two in Thursday's series opener. 

UP NEXT 

• UC Riverside will conclude the series with a doubleheader tomorrow from Anderson Family Field beginning at 4:00 p.m. on ESPN+.