RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Before the first game, UC Riverside honored Highlander legend Amy S. Harrison in a pregame ceremony, with new Director of Athletics Greg Paules throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. The Highlanders then split Thursday's doubleheader against UC San Diego at home, earning a run-rule victory in the opener before dropping the nightcap.
GAME ONE: UC Riverside 9, UC San Diego 1
UC Riverside opened the day with an offensive burst and a complete-game effort from Emory Cheng to secure a 9-1 win in six innings.
The Highlanders struck quickly in the first inning. Aubrey Marx singled to open the frame, and Eta Lauti followed with a two-run home run. Later in the inning, Mariana Palazuelos singled and Arianna Saldivar drove in two more with a double to center, giving UC Riverside a 4-0 lead.
After UC San Diego scored its lone run in the fifth, the Highlanders answered immediately. Saldivar connected on a two-run homer in the bottom half to extend the lead to 6-1. UC Riverside then ended the game in the sixth when Gabriella Garcia singled, Marx doubled and Leilani Juan delivered an RBI single before Palazuelos capped the scoring with a two-run double to right.
Saldivar finished with four RBIs, going 2 for 3 with a double and a home run. Lauti went 1 for 3 with the early two-run homer, while Marx scored twice and collected two hits. Palazuelos added two hits and four RBIs combined with Saldivar in the middle of the lineup.
Cheng (5-7) tossed all six innings, allowing one run on four hits while striking out three.
GAME TWO: UC San Diego 12, UC Riverside 4
In the second game, UC Riverside answered early and continued to battle offensively, but UC San Diego used big innings to pull away for a 12-4 win in five innings.
The Tritons jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first, but the Highlanders responded in the bottom half. Aubrey Marx singled, Leilani Juan followed with a base hit, and Trendee Kahunahana lined a two-run single up the middle to cut the deficit to 4-2.
UC San Diego added three runs in the second and two more in the fourth, but UC Riverside kept fighting. Eta Lauti singled home Taylor Wren in the fourth, and in the fifth Kahunahana doubled to center before Arianna Saldivar brought home Trinity Munoz with an RBI fielder's choice.
Kahunahana led the Highlanders by going 2 for 2 with a double, two RBIs and a walk. Marx also had two hits and scored once, while Lauti, Juan, Saole, Saldivar and Wren each added a hit.
The Highlanders close the series against UC San Diego tomorrow, Saturday, April 4th with first pitch set for 1p.m.
