RIVERSIDE, Calif. — The UC Riverside Highlanders hosted UC Davis for a Saturday doubleheader at Amy S. Harrison Field, erupting for seven runs in the opener before the Aggies answered with a win in the nightcap.
GAME ONE: UC Davis 15, UC Riverside 7
UC Riverside opened the day with a four-run third inning and stayed within one before UC Davis pulled away late for a 15-7 win.
After falling behind 2-0, the Highlanders answered in the bottom of the third. Isabel McElroy and Taylor Wren opened the inning with singles before Aubrey Marx moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Leilani Juan followed with a sacrifice fly to bring home two runs, and Kayla Penor capped the rally with a two-run home run to left-center to give UC Riverside a 4-2 lead.
The Highlanders added three more runs in the seventh. Eta Lauti homered to left field to start the inning, and after Leilani Juan singled, Penor launched her second home run of the game to trim the final margin.
Penor finished with four RBIs and two home runs, while Lauti went 2 for 3 with a homer, a walk and two runs scored. McElroy, Wren, Marx, Juan, Alday and Kahunahana also contributed hits as UC Riverside totaled 10.
GAME TWO: UC Davis 3, UC Riverside 0
The second game turned into a pitcher's duel before UC Davis broke through in the sixth inning for a 3-0 victory.
UC Riverside had chances early, including in the third when Isabel McElroy singled, Rebeca Cabezas moved her into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt and Aubrey Marx followed with a single. The Highlanders also picked up hits from Lauti and Penor, but were unable to cash in.
Emory Cheng kept the Aggies off the board through five innings and finished with a complete-game effort, allowing three runs on four hits over 7.0 innings while walking three and striking out one.
Marx, Lauti, McElroy and Penor each recorded a hit for the Highlanders.
UC Davis scored three runs in the sixth inning to secure the win
The Highlanders close the series against the Aggies tomorrow with a single game beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Amy S. Harrison Field.
