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.
