LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The Highlanders wrapped up play at the UCLA Tournament on Sunday with a pair of games at Easton Stadium, opening the day against Northern Colorado before closing the weekend against seventh-ranked UCLA.

GAME ONE: Northern Colorado 8, UC Riverside 5

UC Riverside battled throughout the contest but fell to Northern Colorado, 8-5, in the opening game of Sunday's doubleheader.

The Bears struck first with a solo home run in the opening inning and added runs in each of the next three frames to build an early advantage. Northern Colorado finished the game with five home runs, including two from Hayden Nelson.

The Highlanders answered in the third inning, as Trendee Kahunahana doubled to right-center to drive in a run before Eta Lauti followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 3-2.

UC Riverside continued to chip away in the sixth inning when Kayla Penor singled and later scored on a Mariana Palazuelo RBI double. Kahunahana followed with an RBI single to bring the Highlanders within four.

The Highlanders added another run in the seventh as Penor singled up the middle to score Jen Ragay, who had entered as a pinch runner.

Kahunahana finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Palazuelo went 3-for-3 with an RBI. Penor added two hits and drove in a run as UC Riverside totaled 10 hits.

Bree Barner (0-2) took the loss in the circle. Ellyse Hydock earned the win for Northern Colorado, pitching four innings of relief.

GAME TWO: No. 7 UCLA 17, UC Riverside 0

UC Riverside closed the weekend against seventh-ranked UCLA, falling 17-0 on Sunday afternoon at Easton Stadium.

The Highlanders were limited to two hits in the contest, with Aubrey Marx and Jackie Alday each recording a hit. Alday doubled in the first inning to put runners in scoring position, but UC Riverside was unable to capitalize.

UP NEXT
The Highlanders host the Japanese Olympic Team for a double header on Sunday, February 15th for a 1pm first pitch.