CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. — The Highlanders closed out play at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic on Sunday with a pair of games against No. 2 Texas Tech and Utah.
GAME ONE: No. 2 Texas Tech 16, UC Riverside 0
UC Riverside faced a tough test against second-ranked Texas Tech in the opening game of the day at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.
The Highlanders drew two walks early, as Aubrey Marx reached in the first inning and Haley Saole worked a walk in the second. UC Riverside also turned a double play defensively during in the top of the second inning.
Texas Tech scored 16 runs on 15 hits to secure the win.
GAME TWO: Utah 1, UC Riverside 0
UC Riverside battled Utah in a tightly contested pitcher's duel but came up just short in a 1-0 decision at Big League Dreams Cathedral City.
The Highlanders generated early momentum in the first inning when Aubrey Marx drew a walk and Trendee Kahunahana followed with a single up the middle to put two runners on with no outs. Gabriella Garcia added a single in the fifth inning as UC Riverside finished with two hits.
Lauren Mendez delivered a strong performance in the circle, tossing 5.1 scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and striking out two. Emory Cheng entered in relief and worked 0.2 innings.
Utah scored the lone run of the game in the sixth inning and finished with one run on three hits.
