SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The UC Riverside Highlanders opened Big West Conference play with a doubleheader split against the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos on Saturday, falling 8-0 in the opener before bouncing back with a 4-2 victory in game two.

GAME ONE: UC Santa Barbara 8, UC Riverside 0

The Gauchos struck first with a three-run home run in the first inning and added four more in the fifth behind another long ball. UC Riverside tallied four hits, with Rebeca Cabezas leading the way with a 2-for-3 performance. Jackie Alday and Trendee Kahunahana also collected hits for the Highlanders.

GAME TWO: UC Riverside 4, UC Santa Barbara 2

The Highlanders responded in game two with an early offensive outburst and a dominant pitching performance from Maddie Heinlin, securing a 4-2 win to earn their first Big West victory of the season.

UC Riverside wasted no time, scoring three runs in the first inning. Kamryn Davis was hit by a pitch and stole second, setting up Haley Saole, who singled up the middle to drive in the game's first run. Moments later, Jackie Alday delivered a clutch two-run double to left center, scoring Davis and Leilani Juan to make it 3-0.

The Highlanders tacked on an insurance run in the second when Kahunahana walked, advanced on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Cabezas.
UC Santa Barbara responded with two runs in the fourth, but Heinlin was in control, going the distance with a complete game, allowing just five hits and striking out six. She worked efficiently, throwing 109 pitches and holding the Gauchos scoreless over the final three innings.

Alday led the offense, going 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, while Saole and Mariana Palazuelos each added hits.

With the series tied, UC Riverside will look to carry its momentum into the final game tomorrow, Sunday, March 9th at 1pm.