RIVERSIDE, Calif. — The Highlanders used a pair of explosive middle innings to pull away from Utah Tech, scoring 10 unanswered runs to secure an 11-6 victory Saturday afternoon at home.
The Trailblazers struck first with three unearned runs in the opening inning, but the Highlanders responded with steady pressure before breaking the game open in the fourth and fifth.
UC Riverside got on the board in the third inning when Leilani Juan singled and later scored on a Trendee Kahunahana RBI fielder's choice, cutting the deficit to 3-1.
The Highlanders then took control in the fourth, sending 10 batters to the plate during a seven-run frame. Juan delivered a two-run single to spark the rally before Mariana Palazuelo followed with a two-run single up the middle. Haley Saole capped the inning with a two-run single, pushing UC Riverside in front, 7-4.
Utah Tech answered with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth, but the Highlanders immediately responded in the bottom half. Kahunahana drove in a run with a single, Lauti was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and Saole drew an RBI walk to extend the lead to 10-6.
Saole finished 2-for-2 with three RBIs and two walks, while Juan went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and scored three times. Palazuelo added two hits and two RBIs as UC Riverside totaled eight hits and drew five walks.
In the circle, Emory Cheng (1-0) earned the win, allowing six runs (three earned) over 4.2 innings. Lauren Mendez closed the game with 2.1 scoreless innings to earn the save, holding Utah Tech to one hit while striking out two.
The Highlanders close out the UCLA tournament tomorrow as they face Northern Colorado at 10:30am before taking on UCLA at 1pm.
