LA JOLLA, Calif. – The UC Riverside Highlanders came up just short in a pair of tightly contested extra-inning matchups on Saturday, falling 5-4 in 10 innings in game one before dropping a 2-1 decision in eight innings in the series finale at Triton Softball Field.

GAME ONE: UC San Diego 5, UC Riverside 4 (10 innings)

UC Riverside rallied early and forced extra innings before falling in walk-off fashion in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader.

After trailing 3-0 in the first inning, the Highlanders answered in the second when Haley Saole was hit by a pitch, and a pair of Triton errors allowed both Jackie Alday and Mariana Palazuelos to reach base. With the bases loaded, Trendee Kahunahana drove in two on a ground ball that was misplayed, cutting the deficit to 3-2.

The Highlanders tied the game in the third after Kamryn Davis led off with a double and scored on an RBI double from Saole.

UC Riverside then took a tied the game in the fifth as Leilani Juan advanced to third on a fielder's choice and scored on an RBI single from Isabel McElroy.

UC San Diego took the lead in the bottom of the third and held off multiple UCR scoring threats before winning on an RBI double in the 10th.

UC Riverside collected 10 hits, with Davis, Saole, Alday, Palazuelos, and McElroy all recording base hits.

GAME TWO: UC San Diego 2, UC Riverside 1 (8 innings)

In another tight extra-inning affair, UC Riverside struck first but couldn't hold off a late push from the Tritons in the 2-1 finale.

The Highlanders opened the scoring in the fourth when Leilani Juan led off with a double and later scored on an RBI double from Jackie Alday, giving UC Riverside a 1-0 lead.
UC San Diego evened the game in the bottom of the inning with an unearned run and walked it off in the eighth with an RBI double.

Maddie Heinlin (8-7) turned in another complete-game effort, throwing 7.1 innings while striking out seven and allowing just one earned run on seven hits.

UC Riverside finished with six hits, led by Juan's 2-for-4 effort with a double and a run scored, and Eta Lauti's double in the third. Rebeca Cabezas, Alday, and Allysa Alano each added hits as the Highlanders continued to put pressure on the Triton defense throughout.

The Highlanders will host Grand Canyon University for a matchup on Wednesday, March 26^th with first pitch set for 1pm.