Explosive Offense Lifts Highlanders to Doubleheader Split

Friday, April 18

Long Beach, CA

3:00 p.m.

UC Riverside

18-0, 9-10

Long Beach State

20-18, 10-9

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
UC Riverside	0	0	2	0	2	0	2	6	11	0
Long Beach State	0	3	0	2	2	1	X	8	12	1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
UC Riverside	0	1	0	0	0	5	2	8	13	1
Long Beach State	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	3	4

Explosive Offense Lifts Highlanders to Doubleheader Split

4/18/2025 9:32:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

LONG BEACH, Calif. – The UC Riverside Highlanders bounced back with an explosive offensive performance in game two after a hard-fought loss in the opener, earning a Friday doubleheader split with Long Beach State.The Highlanders dropped game one 8-6 before taking game two 8-1.

GAME ONE: Long Beach State 8, UC Riverside 6

Despite multi-hit performances from six different Highlanders and home runs from Haley Saole and Jackie Alday, UC Riverside came up just short in the opener.

After falling behind 3-0 in the second, UC Riverside rallied with Saole's two-run home run in the third, followed by Alday's two-run homer in the fifth to pull within 5-4.

In the seventh, the Highlanders made another push. Kahunahana singled and scored, and Alday added her third hit of the day before Leilani Juan doubled in two runs to make it 8-6. The Highlanders brought the tying run to the plate but couldn't complete the comeback.

Alday finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a home run. Saole went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Juan and Lauti also collected two hits apiece.

GAME TWO: UC Riverside 8, Long Beach State 1

UC Riverside responded with one of its best all-around performances of the season in game two, pounding out 13 hits and riding a complete-game outing from Maddie Heinlin to even the series.

After scoring one in the second, the Highlanders broke the game open with a five-run sixth, including RBI hits from Kamryn Davis, Rebeca Cabezas, Kahunahana, and Jackie Alday, and a sacrifice fly from Mariana Palazuelos.

UC Riverside added two more in the seventh, highlighted by Kahunahana's fourth hit of the game and her second RBI, capping a 4-for-5 performance.

Davis, Lauti, Saole, and Juan also had hits in the sixth-inning surge. Lauti finished 2-for-2 with a walk, RBI and double, while Juan and Palazuelos each had multi-hit games.

Heinlin (11-10) allowed just three hits and one unearned run in a dominant seven-inning effort, striking out four.

The Highlanders will go for the series win in Saturday's finale at 1 p.m. at LBSU.