NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – UC Riverside (14-24, 8-10 Big West) surged ahead late in Saturday's series finale at CSUN for a dramatic 3-2 win in eight innings.  

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• UCR fell behind early with a first inning run from the Matadors but withstood a jam in the third with a runner on third.  
• The Highlanders inched increasingly closer towards a tying run with each passing inning, putting runners in scoring position in the first and third. 
• Haylee Lindsey drew a six-pitch walk in the fifth and advanced to third after Trendee Kahunahana pinch hit and earned herself a single. Kahunahana moved to second on an errant throw to put Lindsey 60 feet from home but UCR could not plate the run. 
• Kahunahana came up big again in the seventh and redeemed herself with a one-out double for the tying run.  
• Gigi Araki put UC Riverside ahead for good in the eighth with an RBI double of her own before Maddie Heinlin escaped a jam and shut the door in the bottom of the frame for the complete game win. 

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS 

• UCR has now won two of its last three Big West series.  
• The Highlanders are now 2-1 in their last three extra-innings meetings with CSUN, all of which have come since 2022.  
• Heinlin earned her fifth win of the year with six strikeouts and now has nine strikeouts in her last three starts. 

UP NEXT 

• UC Riverside returns to Amy S. Harrison Field next weekend to host UC San Diego. First pitch in game one from Riverside is scheduled for Saturday, April 27 at 1:00 p.m. on ESPN+.