LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The Highlanders opened play at the UCLA Tournament on Thursday, facing a pair of strong opponents in LMU and Utah at Smith Field. The Highlanders showed flashes on both sides of the ball but came up short in a pair of games, falling 4-0 to LMU before dropping a 9-1 decision to Utah.
GAME ONE: LMU 4, UC Riverside 0
UC Riverside was held scoreless despite strong early pitching but fell to LMU, 4-0, in the opening game of the day at Smith Field.
The Highlanders were limited to three hits, with Aubrey Marx, Kayla Penor and Haley Saole each recording a single. UC Riverside threatened at times, drawing four walks and placing runners in scoring position, but was unable to capitalize.
LMU broke through with a run in the fifth inning before adding three more in the sixth inning.
GAME TWO: Utah 9, UC Riverside 1
Utah used a pair of multi-run innings to pull away early as UC Riverside dropped a 9-1 decision in the second game of the day.
The Utes scored three runs in the second inning and followed with four more in the third to build a 7-0 advantage.
UC Riverside got on the board in the fifth inning when Haley Saole doubled to right-center to bring home Eta Lauti. Saole finished with an RBI double, while Gabriella Garcia went 2-for-2 to lead the Highlanders offensively.
UP NEXT
The Highlanders open the season on Saturday, Feb. 7, hosting Utah Tech for a 1 p.m. first pitch at Amy S. Harrison Field.
