NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — The Highlanders split its Friday action against CSUN, dropping the completion of a suspended game before bouncing back for its first Big West Conference win of the season later in the day.
GAME ONE: CSUN 8, UC Riverside 5
UC Riverside resumed its suspended game against CSUN on Friday and carried a one-run lead into the later innings, but the Matadors used a late push to hand the Highlanders an 8-5 setback at Matador Diamond.
The Highlanders started fast, scoring three runs in the top of the first. Aubrey Marx and Rebeca Cabezas opened the game with back-to-back singles before Jackie Alday launched a three-run home run to left field for an early 3-0 advantage.
CSUN answered with four runs in the bottom of the first, but UC Riverside responded right away in the second. Trendee Kahunahana and Trinity Munoz were both hit by pitches, and after both runners moved up on a passed ball, Eta Lauti brought home Kahunahana with an RBI groundout to tie the game at 4-4.
UC Riverside moved back in front in the third inning. Alday drew a walk and later advanced to second on a wild pitch before Gabriella Garcia reached on an error. Kahunahana then singled up the middle to score Alday and give the Highlanders a 5-4 lead.
Alday finished with three RBIs, while Marx and Cabezas each scored a run. Kahunahana added an RBI, and Lauti also drove in a run for UC Riverside.
CSUN scored twice in the resumed fifth inning and added two more in the sixth to reclaim control.
GAME TWO: UC Riverside 8, CSUN 7
UC Riverside responded in the second game of the day, holding off CSUN for an 8-7 victory at Hiegert Field to earn its first Big West Conference win of the season.
The Highlanders struck first in the second inning when Mariana Palazuelos doubled and Gabriella Garcia followed with a two-run homer to left field. UC Riverside added two more in the third as Rebeca Cabezas drew a walk before Leilani Juan launched a two-run home run to left, extending the lead to 4-0.
CSUN answered with three runs in the bottom of the third, but the Highlanders added another big swing in the sixth. After Garcia reached on an error, Eta Lauti connected on a two-run home run to center to push the lead to 6-3.
The Matadors tied the game with three runs in the bottom half of the sixth, but UC Riverside responded again in the seventh. Cabezas opened the inning with a walk, Jen Ragay singled and Jackie Alday drew another walk to load the bases. Palazuelos then worked an RBI walk to bring home the go-ahead run, and Hailey King followed with a bases-loaded walk to make it 8-6.
CSUN scored once in the bottom of the seventh, but Lauren Mendez came on to record the final outs and secure the win.
Juan, Garcia and Lauti each homered and drove in two runs for the Highlanders. Palazuelos finished 2 for 3 with a double, an RBI and a walk, while Cabezas scored twice. UC Riverside totaled nine hits and five walks in the win.
Emory Cheng (3-3) earned the victory in the circle, and Mendez closed out the game in relief.
UP NEXT
The Highlanders host North Dakota State for a non-conference matchup on Wednesday, March 11th for a 1pm first pitch.
