Leilani Juan
4
Winner UC Riverside UCR 8-10
3
Santa Clara SCU 9-4
Winner
UC Riverside UCR
8-10
4
Final
3
Santa Clara SCU
9-4
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
UC Riverside UCR 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 4 8 2
Santa Clara SCU 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 3 2 1

W: Heinlin, Maddie (3-4) L: VALDEZ, Alaina (0-1)

Game Recap: Softball |

UC Riverside Rallies Late to Defeat Santa Clara, 4-3

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – UC Riverside staged a thrilling seventh-inning comeback to edge Santa Clara, 4-3, in the opening game of the Capital Classic on Friday morning at Shea Stadium.

The Highlanders jumped out to take the lead in the third inning. Eta Lauti singled through the left side before Trendee Kahunahana worked a walk, setting the table for the heart of the lineup. Kamryn Davis followed with a single to center, loading the bases. Leilani Juan put UC Riverside on the board with a sacrifice fly to left, bringing Lauti home. Moments later, Haley Saole lined an RBI single to left field, scoring Kahunahana to give the Highlanders a 2-0 advantage.

Santa Clara responded in the bottom half of the inning, capitalizing on a sacrifice bunt, a throwing error, and a sacrifice fly to plate three runs and take a 3-2 lead. From there, both pitching staffs took control, holding each offense scoreless over the next three innings.

Heading into the seventh trailing by one, the Highlanders found their spark. Davis led off the inning with a double to right center, and Juan reached on an error, putting runners on the corners with no outs. Saole then came through in the clutch, delivering a two-run double to the same spot in right center, scoring both Davis and Juan to give UC Riverside a 4-3 lead.

Maddie Heinlin took care of the rest, retiring the Broncos in order in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win. Heinlin (3-4) was dominant in relief, throwing 2.2 scoreless innings without allowing a hit while striking out three.

The Highlanders' offense tallied eight hits, with Davis, Saole, and Mariana Palazuelos each collecting extra-base hits. Davis finished 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, while Saole went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and the game-winning double. Rebeca Cabezas also contributed with a key double earlier in the game. UC Riverside's defense was sharp, limiting Santa Clara to just two hits while securing nine fly-ball outs.

The Highlanders will look to carry their momentum as they open the Libby Matson Tournament in Stockton with a game against BYU tomorrow, Saturday, March 1st at 12:15pm.