RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The UC Riverside Highlanders rallied late in game one and took an early lead in game two, but ultimately dropped both contests of a Big West Conference doubleheader to CSUN on Friday afternoon at Amy S. Harrison Field. The Highlanders fell 6-4 in the opener before coming up just short in a 2-1 decision in the second game.
GAME ONE: CSUN 6, UC Riverside 4
UC Riverside mounted a seventh-inning rally with a grand slam from
Jackie Alday, but couldn't overcome an early deficit in a 6-4 loss to the Matadors.
CSUN struck for three runs in the top of the first, taking advantage of a fielding error and a three-run home run. The visitors added solo homers in the third and seventh innings to build a 6-0 lead.
The Highlanders got on the board in the seventh.
Mariana Palazuelos and
Isabel McElroy reached base, followed by a hit-by-pitch and a fielding error that loaded the bases. With two outs, Alday delivered a towering grand slam to left field, her second of the season, to bring UC Riverside within two.
Rebeca Cabezas and
Leilani Juan followed with singles to keep the rally alive, but a flyout ended the comeback.
Alday finished 2-for-3 with a double, homer, and four RBIs, while Cabezas also had a multi-hit performance.
GAME TWO: CSUN 2, UC Riverside 1
UC Riverside struck first in game two, but a pair of third-inning runs by CSUN held up as the Highlanders fell 2-1 in the nightcap.
The Highlanders opened the scoring in the first inning when
Rebeca Cabezas reached on an error and scored on a two-out RBI double by
Haley Saole. UC Riverside had runners in scoring position again in the second and fourth but couldn't capitalize.
CSUN responded with two runs in the third on a pair of two-out RBI hits, and the Highlanders were unable to even the score despite a late push.
UC Riverside totaled three hits — Cabezas, Saole, and
Isabel McElroy each recording one. Saole's double in the first was the Highlanders' lone extra-base hit of the game.
UC Riverside (14-21 5-7 Big West) will close out the three-game series with CSUN on Saturday at Amy S. Harrison Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
