PHOENIX, Ariz. — The Highlanders closed out play at the ASU/GCU Invitational on Saturday with a pair of games at GCU Softball Stadium, facing UNLV in the afternoon before taking on No. 25 Grand Canyon in the nightcap.
GAME ONE: UNLV 5, UC Riverside 2
UC Riverside recorded eight hits but was unable to overcome an early five-run deficit in a 5-2 loss to UNLV.
The Rebels scored once in the first inning and added four runs in the second. The Highlanders answered in the bottom of the second when Leilani Juan singled up the middle and was replaced on the bases by Trinity Munoz. Trendee Kahunahana followed with a single to shallow center, and Arianna Saldivar delivered a two-RBI double to left center to score Munoz and Kahunahana and cut the margin to 5-2.
Munoz finished 2-for-2 with a double off the bench, while Rebeca Cabezas went 2-for-3 with a double. Saldivar added a double and two RBIs as UC Riverside matched UNLV with eight hits.
GAME TWO: No. 25 Grand Canyon 5, UC Riverside 0
The Highlanders matched No. 25 Grand Canyon with eight hits in the evening contest but were unable to capitalize in a 5-0 decision.
UC Riverside threatened early in the first inning as Aubrey Marx and Leilani Juan recorded back-to-back singles to put two runners aboard. Liliana Moreno added two hits on the night, while Marx also finished with two hits. Cabezas, Juan and Trinity Munoz each contributed a base hit as the Highlanders totaled eight hits against the nationally ranked Lopes.
Grand Canyon scored once in the first inning, added a solo home run in the fourth and three runs in the fifth to secure the win.
The Highlanders head to Northride to begin their first Big West Conference series against CSUN beginning Friday, March 6th for a double header beginning at 1pm.
