RIVERSIDE, Calif. - UC Riverside (2-2, 0-0 Big West) concluded a busy opening homestand with a doubleheader split of Army on Saturday afternoon at Amy S. Harrison Field.
GAME ONE: Army 1, UC Riverside 0
UCR threatened early in game one with runners in scoring position in the first and second innings. In the circle, meanwhile, Brooke Perez held the Black Knights in check with two runners on the base paths to end the first three innings.
Army scored the game's only run on a fifth-inning double.
The Highlanders loaded the bases in the fifth inning with a single and two walks, all with two outs.
GAME TWO: UC Riverside 6, Army 5
Army built on a 1-0 lead with another run in the third, but UCR responded with a four-spot in the bottom of the frame. Jackie Alday kicked things off with a one-out double that scored Alyssa Alano. Alday tied the game on a sac fly from Trendee Kahunahana and Bella Scozzola put UC Riverside comfortably ahead with a two-run homer down the left field line, the Highlanders' first long ball of the season.
UCR tacked on two more in the bottom of the fourth. In the circle, Reagan Everett went 6.0 innings with eight strikeouts.
FROM COACH MATTA
"I'm proud of the team for fighting in the last couple days and showing grit, especially today. We played a really good defensive game and our pitchers through really well. I'm really proud of the fight and effort they came back with. Tomorrow's a huge opportunity for us. It's a great opportunity for us to go out, play loose, have fun, learn and grow."
UP NEXT
UCR will conclude opening weekend on Sunday, February 9 with a pair of games at the UCLA-hosted Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament against UCLA (10:30 am) and Lehigh (1:00 pm).
