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(Sept. 23, 2004) - The UC
Riverside Highlanders softball team will welcome six newcomers
to the program in 2005, Head Coach Connie Miner announced.
New members of the team are freshmen Christin Songer, April
Murray, Veronica Yee and Danira Iolamo and junior transfers
Andrea Gomez and Mandi Salcido.
Salcido (SS/2B, 5-8, R/R,
Sacramento, CA/Sacramento City College) was a member of the
2004 National Championship Junior College team at Sacramento
City College. "Mandi brings veteran experience to our
program and is an outstanding shortstop and a great hitter.
I expect great things from her this year."
Gomez (C/OF, 5-6, R/R, Fontana,
CA/Mt. San Antonio College) was a member of the 2003 National
Championship Junior College team at Mt. SAC. "Andie is
a very strong catcher and plays a great outfield. I look for
Andie to provide us with leadership both on and off the field,"
Miner said.
Songer (P/1B, 5-10, R/R,
Orangevale, CA/Bella Vista HS) is touted by Miner as "the
hardest thrower UCR has ever had. Christin will complement
our pitching staff not only with her speed but also with the
movement of all her other pitches."
Iolamo (P/1B, 5-8, R/R,
Compton, CA/Carson HS) is described by Miner as a great all-around
athlete who has solid power at the plate and a good glove
at first base. She will also see time in the circle for the
Highlanders.
Murray (2B/OF, 5-6, L/R,
Yorba Linda, CA/Esperanza HS) is a left handed hitter with
speed who helped her summer team win the 2003 18-and-under
Gold National Championship. "April can bunt, slap and
hit from the left side. She will provide versatility for us
at second base and in the outfield," Miner said.
Yee (OF/P, 5-4, L/R, Milpitas,
CA/Milpitas HS) is the sister of Highlander junior outfielder
Jamie Yee. "'Romi' will provide us with depth in the
outfield and speed on the basepaths. She is very fast and
will not let anything fall in the outfield," Miner said.
The Highlanders return 12
players from last year's team, including top hitters in junior
outfielders Jamie Yee (.296, 28 runs) and Jessica Black (.283,
20 runs, 17 RBI), junior 3B Melissa Sanchez (.369, 7 HR, 34
RBI, .588 SLG, .528 OBP) and sophomore catcher Eliizabeth
Buck (.283, 3 HR, 30 RBI).
(Dec. 11, 2004) - Second
baseman Traci Bender will join the Highlander Softball team
at the start of the Winter quarter, Head Coach Connie Miner
said.
Bender played for two seasons
for Coach Robert Maglione at Sacramento City College, playing
at shortstop in 2003 and second base in 2004. She helped the
team to a 44-2 record and a California JC State Championship
in 2004 and was named First Team All Bay Valley Conference
and Easton Third Team All-American. She also earned All-Tournament
team honors in the state tournament.
In 2003 she was named Second
Team All-BVC and earned Gold Glove Award at JC State Championship.
(Feb. 2, 2005) - The UC
Riverside Highlanders lost their season opener to the defending
NCAA Champion UCLA Bruins 3-0 at Bill Barber Park in Irvine
Wednesday, With the win the Bruins moved to 3-0, while the
Highlanders fell to 0-1.
The Highlanders surrendered
three unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning. Leadoff
hitter Andrea Duran reached on an error, but UCR starter Sara
Radabaugh then retired the next two hitters. However Jodie
Legaspi plated Duran for the first run of the game, and moments
later Emily Zaplatosch moved her over with one of her three
hits on the afternoon. A walk to Kristen Dedmon loaded the
bases and Krista Colburn followed with an RBI single to plate
two runs and give UCLA a 3-0 lead.
But Radabaugh settled down,
allowing just three more hits the rest of the afternoon, and
matched Bruins' pitchers Lisa Dodd and Anjelica Seldon in
putting up zero after zero on the board. Radabaugh, a sophomore,
allowed six hits and the three unearned runs while walking
one and striking out three in six innings of work.
However, the Highlander
offense struggled against the Bruin hurlers, as Eliizabeth
Buck's double and singles by Jessica Black and Hailey Marshall
were all the offense UCR could muster.
For the Bruins, Dodd got
the win, allowing one hit and striking out four in four innings
of work, and Selden earned the save with three innings of
two-hit relief.
The game was played in Irvine
due to construction at the Bruins' home stadium.
(Feb. 4, 2005) - The
UC Riverside Highlanders split their games Friday at the San
Diego State Tournament, beating St. Mary's 9-0 and losing
to Long Beach State 13-2. UCR is now 1-2 on the season.
In the opener against St.
Mary's, Sara Radabaugh threw a complete-game five-hitter,
striking out two and allowing five hits in a game shortened
by the mercy rule. UCR scored three times in the first and
fourth innings, then knocked across two in the fifth to end
the game. All the Highlander starters picked up at least one
hit as UCR banged out 14 in total.
Game two saw the 49ers jump
on the Highlanders early, scoring three runs in the second,
six in the third, and four in the fourth. UCR collected eight
hits but could manage a run in each of the fourth and fifth
innings.
The Highlanders (1-2) face
UC Davis and San Diego State tomorrow.
(Feb. 5, 2005) - The
UC Riverside Highlanders dropped a pair of games at the SDSU
Invitational Tournament Saturday.
In the opener the Highlanders
got roughed up early, surrendering a single run in the first
and four - three unearned - in the second off of starter Sara
Radabaugh. UCR crawled back into the game, scoring a single
run in the fourth, two in the sixth and one in the seventh.
However the Highlanders left the tying run on third and fell
5-4. Centerfielder Jamie Yee led UCR with two hits and catcher
Eliizabeth Buck had two RBI.
Radabaugh scattered eight
hits and struck out six over six innings of work.
In the nightcap, host San
Diego State defeated the Highlanders 5-1. Radabaugh threw
a complete game for the Highlanders, surrendering 10 hits
and three earned runs, walking four and striking out five.
Shortstop Mandi Salcido scored the Highlanders lone run, doubling
and coming home on an error in the fourth inning.
The Highlanders (1-4) conclude
the tournament on Sunday.
(Feb. 6, 2005) - The UC
Riverside Highlanders suffered their third straight loss as
St. Mary's mounted a seventh inning rally to come from behind
and post a 6-4 win in the final game of the San Diego State
Invitational Tournament Sunday.
With UCR leading 3-2 in
the top of the seventh, the Gaels got a leadoff double from
Mello and Loftis reached on an error by second baseman Traci
Bender as she attempted to sacrifice the runner to third.
Larsen made the sacrifice attempt moot by launching a shot
to left center that cleared the wall for a three-run homer.
The Gaels added a fourth run, unearned, to give them a 6-3
lead.
UCR attempted to rally in
the bottom of the inning, as Jamie Yee reached on a two-out
double and Mandi Salcido followed with a single. Melissa Sanchez
followed with an RBI single, but Eliizabeth Buck popped to
third to end the threat and the game.
It was Buck's two-run homer
in the fourth inning that gave UCR a 2-0 lead. The Gaels tied
it in the top of the fifth, but UCR took the lead in the bottom
of the sixth when Salcido - who had reached on an error -
scored on a Dani Bishop sacrifice fly.
Sara Radabaugh (0-3) took
the loss allowing nine hits, six runs - four earned, while
walking two and striking out three in seven innings of work.
Radabaugh took up a lot of slack for the injury-battered Highlander
pitching staff, throwing 25 innings over four games.
The Highlanders (1-5) compete
at the UNLV Tournament beginning Friday, February 11.
(Feb. 12, 2005) - LAS VEGAS,
Nev. – The Oregon Ducks posted an 11-3 victory over UC Riverside
at the UNLV Tournament Saturday.
Oregon improved to 5-1 overall
this season, while the Highlanders fell to 1-6.
UCR took a 1-0 lead in
the first as third baseman Melissa Sanchez singled home April
Murray, but Oregon responded by scoring three runs in the
first and two in the second to take a 5-1 lead.
Riverside cut the deficit
to 5-3 in the fourth inning after an RBI singles by April
Murray and Mandi Salcido, but Oregon responded again, scoring
two runs in the fourth, one in the fifth and three in the
sixth, giving them an 11-3 lead and causing the mercy rule
to be invoked.
Sara Radabaugh took the
loss, giving up nine hits and seven earned runs in 4.1 innings
of work.
(Feb. 13, 2005) - LAS VEGAS,
Nev. – The difficulties continued for the UC Riverside Highlanders
Sunday as they dropped a pair of games as the Louisville Slugger
Desert Classic in Las Vegas. Baylor University defeated UCR
12-2 and Utah defeated the Highlanders 9-1. UCR fell to 1-8
on the season.
Baylor got off to a quick
start with a pair of first inning runs, but UCR answered with
an uneared run in the top of the second. The Lady Bears built
the margin to five at 6-1 in the fifth and UCR again scored
a single run in the top of the sixth to cut the lead to 6-2.
However, Baylor scored six times in the bottom of the inning
to invoke the mercy rule, the final blow coming on a three
run homer, the Lady Bears' fourth of the game.
Homers were a problem again
in the nightcap, as Utah used a pair of three-run bombs to
help them to a 9-1 win. The Highlanders led 1-0 after two
as Kristen Dufrene singled home Jessica Black,, but Utah cme
back with a three run shot in the third and got their second
homer in the fifth, helping them to the final margin of victory.
(Feb. 16, 2005) – SAN DIEGO,
Calif. - The UC Riverside Highlanders earned their second
win of 2005 Wednesday by winning game one of a doubleheader
with the University of San Diego, 1-0. The Torreros took the
nightcap, 3-2 in eight innings.
University of San Diego
Softball team (2-3) split a pair of thrilling games against
the UC Riverside Highlanders (2-9) on Wednesday night.
The opener was scoreless
until the top of the fifth when Dani Bishop slapped a two-out
double. Moments later pinch runner Veronica Yee came home
on a double by Traci Bender to give UCR a 1-0 lead.
That would prove to be all
the support that UCR starter Sara Radabaugh needed, as she
shut out the Toreros on six hits, walking a pair and striking
out three to move to 2-6 on the season, working out of a bases
loaded and one out situation in the bottom of the seventh
to preserve the win. Losing pitcher Erin Harmonson (1-2) allowed
six hits, walking one and striking out a pair.
The nightcap went into extra
innings, and an eighth inning sacrifice fly by Alicia Massei
gave USD a 3-2 win. Both teams got on the scoreboard early.
USD starting the scoring in the first, putting together three
base hits to take a 2-0 lead. The Highlanders tied the game
in the next half inning, scoring two runs on five hits. The
Toreros got strong relief from Christina Haake to stop the
bleeding as she worked out of a bases loaded jam and preserved
the tie.
In the bottom of the eighth,
Gina McFarland drew a one-out walk. Sara Mason then hit a
grounder to short, but Riverside shortstop Mandi Salcido was
unable to make the play at second. Kathleen Bonja followed
with a base hit, loading the bases. With just one out, Alicia
Massei drilled a fly ball to center, deep enough to score
McFarland for the game-winning run. Haake recorded the victory
for the Toreros, allowing just two hits in 6 2/3 innings of
relief work. Freshman Christin Songer, making just her second
start for UCR, was the hard luck loser, allowing eight hits
and two earned runs in 7.2 innings of work, walking two and
striking out six.
The Highlanders return to
action Friday as they host their UCR Tournament. Also playing
are USD, Oregon and Portland State.
(Feb. 18, 2005) - Following
torrential overnight rains that saturated the field and with
more rain in the forecast, the 2005 UCR Softball Tournament
was cancelled Friday.
"Unfortunately there
just wasn't a break in the weather anywhere, and it worked
better for all the teams involved to take this route,"
UCR Head Coach Connie Miner said.
The tourney featured Oregon,
Portland State and the University of San Diego.
(Feb. 27, 2005) - UC Riverside
finished at 2-3 at the USD Tournament Sunday as they defeated
the University of Illinois-Chicago, 7-6 Sunday. The Highlanders
improved to 4-12 on the season.
Sophomore first baseman
Jennifer Thompson powered the Highlanders' offense, going
2-for-2 with a double and four RBI. Freshman starter Christin
Songer struck out three and allowed nine hits in pitching
a complete game effort.
On Saturday, the Highlanders
fell to the University of Illinois-Chicago in the opener,
5-2, despite a 3-for-4 performance by Melissa Sanchez. Starter
Sara Radabaugh threw a complete game, allowing 11 hits and
five runs, three earned. But the Flames' Mercades Lovato was
just a little better, allowing eight hits and two earned runs
in her complete game win.
Against St. John's in the
nightcap, UCR fell 5-1. UCR freshman starter Songer was not
supported by her defense, which committed a pair of errors
behind her that led to all five runs being unearned. She allowed
nine hits and one, striking out five in seven innings of work.
Sanchez accounted for the only run, doubling home April Murray
in the third.
In play on Friday, the UC
Riverside Highlanders split their two games. UCR lost to Nevada
in their first game of the game, 2-0, then came back in the
night cap to defeat host USD, 6-2.
Songer earned her first
win of the season against the Toreros, scattering seven hits
in her complete game effort. UCR scored four times in the
fourth inning to take command of the game and never looked
back. Junior Traci Bender accounted for three RBI and Sanchez
went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored to lead the Highlanders'
10-hit attack.
Against Nevada the Highlanders
were shutout on a two hits by starter Jordan McPherson. She
allowed three walks and struck out seven for the WolfPack.
Radabaugh pitched well but took the loss, allowing two runs
and six hits, striking out four in six innings.
(March 6, 2005) - The UC
Riverside Softball team went 1-4 in play at the Texas Tech
Tournament in Lubbock, TX this past weekend. The Highlanders
lost their first four games, falling to New Mexico 5-3, Texas
Tech 10-2, Texas AM Corpus Christi, 1-0, and Centenary, 6-1.
However they came back in their final game on Sunday, handing
the Red Raiders a 5-3 loss.
UCR is now 5-16 on the season.
The Highlanders went extra
innings in their opener Friday, but fell to the New Mexico
Lobos 5-3 in nine innings. Sara Radabaugh took the loss for
UCR, which was tied with the Lobos 2-2 at the end of seven
innings. Each team scored a run in the eighth, but New Mexico
tallied a pair in the top of the ninth to pull out the win.
Radabaugh allowed nine hits and three earned runs in nine
innings of work, walking two and striking out two. Jessica
Black and Mandi Salcido each had two hits for UCR.
In game two the Highlanders
dropped a 10-2 decision to host Texas Tech in a game that
was called aftre four and half innings. The Red Raiders scored
three times in the first, but UCR cut the margin to two as
Eliizabeth Buck slammed a solo homer in the third. In the
fourth Melissa Sanchez hammered a homer to cut the margin
to two. But Texas Tech came back with six runs in the bottom
of the fourth inning, batting around, to put the game out
of reach.
Saturday's play opened with
a pitcher's duel between Radabaugh and Sarah Pauly of Texas
AM Corpus Christi. The game's sole run came in the bottom
of the seventh when Radabaugh hit the leadoff batter with
a pitch. Following a fielder's choice, pinch runner Shana
Washington came around on an RBI double by Shannon Stein to
end the game. Radabaugh surrendered just three hits in 6.1
innings, striking out five, but Pauley was a bit better, allowing
four hits and striking out 12.
In Saturday's second game,
the Centenary Ladies posted a 6-1 win over the Highlanders.
Freshman Christin Songer got the start and allowed three runs
on three hits in two innings of work. Radabaugh came in to
pitch in relief, allowing three runs and three hits in the
final five innings. Salcido led the Highlanders with a pair
of hits and Jennifer Thompson knocked home Sanchez with UCR's
lone run in the second inning.
Riverside ended the tournament
on a positive note, however, posting a 5-3 win in the finale
over the Red Raiders. Sanchez hammered a grand slam home run
to left center to give the Highlanders a 4-1 lead in the fourth
inning. The Red Raiders scored twice in the fifth to cut the
score to 4-3, but Sanchez accounted for UCR's fifth run when
her RBI double scored Thompson.
UCR opens the home schedule
on Tuesday, March 8 as they host Boston College in a doubleheader.
(Mar. 8, 2005) The UC Riverside
softball team dropped a pair of games to visiting Boston College,
falling 2-0 in game one and 4-3 in game two at Amy S. Harrison
Field, Tuesday.
In the opener, Boston College
got ahead early, and led 1-0 in the first after a home run
by junior outfielder Kimmy Hopkin.
In the bottom of the fourth,
UCR opened with a base hit when junior left fielder Jessica
Black single to second base. Black reached second when the
Eagle second baseman failed to cover. She later advanced to
third off a wild pitch but the inning came to a close when
junior second baseman Traci Bender lined out and sophomore
first baseman Jennifer Thompson grounded out.
The Eagles added on another
run in the fifth when senior catcher Lisa Field bunted home
freshman outfielder Amanda Booth.
In the bottom of the seventh
UCR tried to muster a two-out rally when Thompson reached
on an error and pinch runner Kristen Dufrene took second base
on a single by junior shortstop Mandi Salcido, but the effort
fell short when sophomore catcher Eliizabeth Buck grounded
out to short.
In game two the Eagles got out to another early lead in the
first and second, leading 3-0 going into the bottom of the
second. BC scored two in the first off a Britney Thompson
single which scored Jenna Macchi and Ashley Obrest singled
to right to score Britney Thompson.
In the top of the second
the Eagles scored when Hopkin singled to center scoring designated
player Carley McNary.
The Highlanders answered
in the bottom of the second scoring three runs each off RBI
singles by designated player Andie Gomez and right fielder
April Murray. With one out, Thompson, Salcido, and Buck consecutively
singled. Dufrene scored when Gomez singled to short. Junior
center fielder Jamie Yee then reached on a fielder's choice,
but Salcido was thrown out at home. Murray slapped a single
to center that scored Gomez, and Buck who beat a play at the
plate. Jessica Black grounded out to end the inning.
The Eagles scored the go-ahead
run in the fourth, and held the 4-3 lead into the bottom of
the seventh where the Highlanders again mounted a rally charge.
Yee doubled to center to open the inning and advanced to third
on a wild pitch. Murray flied out and BC brought in Britney
Thompson to try and stop the bleeding. Black reached when
she was hit by a pitch. But the inning came to a close as
Sanchez flied to short and Bender flied to left.
The Eagles leave Amy S.
Harrison Field with a 9-9 record, while UCR dropped to 5-18.
The Highlanders stay at
home this week hosting the Harrison Classic Mar. 11-13.
(Mar. 11, 2005) Harvard
and Cal Poly each won on the opening day of the 2005 Amy S.
Harrison Softball Tournament Friday in Riverside, CA. In the
tournament opener, Harvard took care of Southern Utah 4-2.
Harvard moved to 1-0, while SUU fell to 1-12.
The UC Riverside Highlanders
then took on Big West Conference rival Cal Poly in the afternoon
game, with the Mustangs overcoming a one-run Highlander lead
to get the 3-1 win. Cal Poly improves to 11-9 while UCR drops
to 5-19.
The first two innings were
scoreless, but in the bottom of the third with one out centerfielder
Jaime Yee reached base after being hit by the pitch. Rightfielder
April Murray then batted a single through the right side.
Leftfielder Jessica Black flied out to short, but third baseman
Melissa Sanchez walked to load the bases. Second baseman Traci
Bender yanked one through the left field gap, scoring Yee
to take the 1-0 lead.
UCR held the lead through
the fourth, but the Mustangs climbed on top in the fifth.
With one out, centerfielder Lisa Modglin singled to right.
Second baseman Sarah Iwata flied out to short but Modglin
advanced to second on an error and beat the throw to get to
third. Rightfielder Chelsy Stoufer homered and Cal Poly took
the 2-1 lead.
The Mustangs stopped the Highlander counter-attack in the
bottom of the inning and added another run in the top of the
sixth off catcher Erin Myers' solo bomb.
In the bottom of the seventh
UCR tried to surmount the lead when pinch hitter Danira Iolamo
in her first appearance of the season singled up the middle
on the first pitch. Yee then flied out to left field and Murray
grounded out to second, but Black singled to left field and
pinch runner Veronica Yee got to third on the play. The game
ended when Sanchez flied out to short.
Pitcher Eva Nelson got the
win for Cal Poly improving to 4-6, while starter Sarah Radabaugh
took the loss for UCR falling to 3-12.
UCR will next face Harvard
and Southern Utah at 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM on Saturday. The
other games on Saturday feature Cal Poly taking on Harvard
at 9:00 AM and Southern Utah facing off against Cal Poly at
3:00 PM.
(Mar. 12, 2005) UC Riverside
won twice and Harvard collected a win on day two of the Amy
S. Harrison Classic in Riverside, CA Saturday.
Harvard and Cal Poly opened
the day and Harvard came away with the victory, 4-2. Harvard
pitcher Becky Voaklander got the win, while pitcher Robyn
Contra took the loss for the Mustangs. Harvard will face Cal
Poly again at 9:00 AM on Sunday, the final day of the tournament.
Host UC Riverside saw action
twice this afternoon, coming out of the day with a 2-0 record.
In the first game the Highlanders were 8-0 victors and played
only six innings due to the mercy rule. Later, UCR came out
on top of their match-up with Southern Utah, 4-3.
Against Harvard, it was
all UCR, who scored in four of the six innings played. The
game started out slowly, with both teams held scoreless until
the third when UCR banked three runs. First baseman Jennifer
Thompson walked to get things started and shortstop Mandi
Salcido cracked a single to left field. Centerfielder Jaime
Yee then bunted to advance the runners and rightfielder April
Murray slapped a single advancing to second on the throw and
scoring pinch runner Kristen Dufrene. Third baseman Melissa
Sanchez reached on a dropped fly ball to score Murray and
Salcido.
The Highlanders scored another
two in the fourth and fifth, and added another three in the
sixth. In the fourth, catcher Eliizabeth Buck homered, her
third of the season and in the fifth, leftfielder Jessica
Black doubled to start the inning and later scored when pinch
hitter Dani Bishop hit a soaring sacrifice fly to left field.
With one out, Yee reached on an error, Murray singled to short
and Black reached on an error to load the bases for Sanchez.
Sanchez reached on a fielder's choice to score Yee and Bishop
singled up the middle scoring Black and Sanchez. In the bottom
of the inning the defense held Harvard scoreless to end the
game.
Freshman pitcher Christin
Songer got the win for the Highlanders, improving to 3-6 on
the season while Harvard's Lauren Betinelli took the loss.
In game two UCR took a 1-0
lead in the first when Murray scored off a Sanchez single,
but got down 3-1 in the second. With one out catcher Kortny
Hall walked and leftfielder Ashley Christiansen singled to
left field. Mounting a two-out rally, second baseman Bobbi
Jo Merrill doubled down the leftfield line scoring Hall. Shortstop
Tiffany Burt then singled and advanced to second on the throw,
scoring both Christiansen and Merrill.
Riverside scored the go-ahead
in the bottom of the fourth. Sanchez reached on a throwing
error and second baseman Traci Bender bunted to advance Sanchez.
Buck yanked a single to left field and Thompson walked to
load the bases for Bishop, who grounded out to short and scored
Sanchez. With two runners in scoring position Mandi Salcido
bombed a triple down the leftfield line to score Buck and
pinch runner Ynez Canela.
UCR held on to the one-run
lead and ended the day on a huge double play by Bender, who
made a diving catch and then doubled off the runner at first.
UCR improves to 7-19 with the two wins, while Harvard and
Southern Utah move to 2-1 and 1-13 respectively.
Highlander pitcher Sarah
Radabaugh improves to 4-12 while Southern Utah pitcher Kristy
Miller falls to 0-6.
The Amy S. Harrison Classic
ends Sunday with Cal Poly facing Harvard at 9:00 AM and UC
Riverside will close out the tournament against Southern Utah
at 12:00 PM.
(Mar. 13, 2005) Cal Poly
collected two wins and UC Riverside lost one on the final
day of the Amy S. Harrison Classic in Riverside, CA Sunday.
In the best pitcher's duel
of the tournament, Southern Utah (2-14) held on for a 1-0
win for their first win of the tournament.
The game was scoreless until
the bottom of the sixth inning, when Southern Utah scored
the game winning run off a single by first baseman Jenner
Johnson which scored third baseman Kristy Miller.
In the top of the seventh,
UCR mounted a rally. With one out, first baseman Jennifer
Thompson walked and shortstop Mandi Salcido singled to centerfield.
With pinch hitter Andie Gomez at the plate, Salcido and pinch
runner Veronica Yee both advanced a base off a wild pitch,
but Gomez lined to left where leftfielder Cortnie Anderson
caught it on the fly for the first out and then doubled Yee
at second base for a double play to end thegame and tournament.
UCR split going 2-2 over
the weekend. SUU pitcher Amy Sauer pitched a complete game
giving up five hits and two walks while striking out two.
Highlander pitcher Christin Songer dropped 3-7 on the season
giving up only six hits, two walks and striking out five in
six innings of work.
In the opener, Cal Poly
beat Harvard 8-0 including back-to-back homers in the fourth
inning by second baseman Chelsy Stoufer and rightfielder Chelsea
Green. Harvard (2-2) left the tournament with a 2-2 record.
Game four of Saturday's
schedule between Cal Poly and Southern Utah was suspended
due to darkness and completed after the Cal Poly Harvard game
Sunday. The Mustangs came out on top beating SUU 10-9. Cal
Poly (13-10) ended the tournament with a record of 3-1.
The Highlanders (7-20) return to action at home next week
in the conference opener against Cal Poly Mar. 19-20.
(Mar. 19, 2005) UC Riverside
dropped two games to visiting Cal Poly 3-2 and 4-0 in its
Big West Conference home opener at Amy S. Harrison Field Saturday.
In the opener UCR trailed
2-0 until the bottom of the fourth inning, when with two outs
center fielder Jaime Yee walked and left fielder Jessica Black
slammed her first homer of the season. In the top of the seventh,
Cal Poly scored the go-ahead run when second baseman Chelsy
Stoufer doubled to right field to score center fielder Lisa
Modglin.
Mustang pitcher Eva Nelson
pitched a complete game, allowing six hits and two runs, while
striking out five. Starter Christin Songer took the loss for
the Highlanders, pitching six and a third innings and allowing
seven hits and three runs. Leadoff batter April Murray went
two-for-three, while Black went one-for-four with two RBI.
Catcher Eliizabeth Buck also had a good day, with two assists
including a great throw in the first inning to pick off Stoufer
at second base.
In game two the Highlanders
trailed early in the first 1-0 when rightfielder Chelsea Green
tripled to left field and Stoufer singled to bring her home.
In the top of the third, Cal Poly mounted a two-out rally
off two singles by designated player Sarah Iwata and first
baseman Shannon Brooks, followed by a massive home run by
catcher Erin Myers to make the lead 4-0.
Cal Poly pitcher Robyn Kontra
improved to 9-4, pitching six innings and allowing eight hits
and no runs.
For the Highlanders, starter
Sara Radabaugh pitched three innings, giving up eight hits
and four runs while freshman Danira Iolamo took over at pitcher
in the fourth inning, her second appearance of the day at
that position. Iolamo allowed only three hits and gave up
no runs in four innings. Radabaugh dropped to 4-13 with the
loss. Shortstop Mandi Salcido had another strong performance,
going three-for-three.
Between the two games, the
Highlanders left 19 runners on base.
The three-game series concludes
Sunday at Amy S. Harrison Field in Riverside, CA. The game
is scheduled for 12:00 PM.
(Mar. 20, 2005) UC Riverside
dropped the final game of its three-game home conference opener
series against Cal Poly, 9-3, at Amy S. Harrison Field, Sunday.
The Highlanders got out
to an early lead in the first inning. With two outs, center
fielder Jamie Yee walked, stole second, and scored when third
baseman Melissa Sanchez reached on an error. Cal Poly answered
in the top of the second, when third baseman Kristi Alvers
doubled to left field to drive in catcher Erin Myers. Riverside
again took the lead in the bottom of the inning when catcher
Eliizabeth Buck scored off a Yee single.
In the top of the third
the Mustangs (16-10, 3-0), banked four runs on Myers' two-out
grand slam off reliever Danira Iolamo to make the score 5-2.
It was her second homer of the weekend. They added another
run in the top of the fourth inning when center fielder Lisa
Modglin scored after Sarah Iwata reached on a fielder's choice.
Trailing 6-2 in the bottom
of the fourth, UCR tried to answer as pinch runner Veronica
Yee made it home on a wild pitch, but it would be the last
run UCR would score.
The Mustangs scored another
three in the fifth and sixth innings to widen the gap to 9-3.
In the fifth, pinch runner
Kelly Comstock scored after
left fielder Amy Jo Nazarenus reached on an error. In the
sixth, second baseman Chelsy Stoufer scored on a Myers sacrifice
fly as Alvers doubled home pinch hitter Leigh Moore.
Mustang pitcher Robyn Kontra
got the win improving to 10-4, while UCR starter Sara Radabaugh
dropped to 4-14. Radabaugh pitched two and two thirds innings,
allowing two hits and four runs while striking out two. Reliever
Danira Iolamo pitched 4.1 innings, giving up eight hits and
five runs. Iolamo has pitched a total of nine innings this
season, all coming in this series.
The Highlanders, (7-23,
0-3) next travel north to the San Jose State Invitational
Mar. 22-23, followed by a doubleheader against Santa Clara
before returning home to host Ohio State Mar. 26.
(Mar. 22, 2005) - The UC
Riverside Highlanders got a one-hitter from freshman hurler
Christin Songer as they defeated Dartmouth, 3-1, in the opening
game of the San Jose State Softball Tournament Monday.
The game was the only one
to be played at the tournament as rain washed out the remainder
of the slate. With the win the Highlanders improved to 8-23.
Songer had the no-no through
the first five innings before giving up a leadoff triple in
the sixth. The only run for Dartmouth came home two batters
later on a sacrifice fly. In all, Songer hrough a complete
game, walking two, striking out four and hitting a batter.
The Highlanders struck in
the top of the first for a single run when left fielder Jessica
Black reached on a fielders' choice and came around on an
error by Dartmouth's second baseman on a shot by third baseman
Melissa Sanchez. They added a pair of runs in the fifth when
second baseman Hailey Marshall reached on an error and came
home on an RBI double by centerfielder Jamie Yee. Following
a hit by Black, Yee came home on a single by Sanchez for a
3-0 lead.
Weather permitting, the
Highlanders will continue the San Jose State Invitational
Wednesday, followed by a doubleheader against Santa Clara
before returning home to host Ohio State Mar. 26.
(Mar. 24, 2005) - The UC
Riverside Highlanders softball team ran their winning streak
to three games Thursday by posting 3-0 and 6-2 wins for a
double-header sweep of Santa Clara University at Marasalli
Park.
The Highlanders improved
to 10-23 this season and have won three straight for the first
time this year. Santa Clara fell to 13-16.
In the opener, UC Riverside
took a 1-0 lead in the fourth when third baseman Melissa Sanchez
came around on an error following a shortstop Mandi Salcido's
single down the first base line.
The Highlanders added a
pair in the sixth when left fielder Jessica Black walked and
Sanchez reached on an error. Salcido and first baseman Jennifer
Thompson followed with RBI singles to give UCR a 3-0 lead.
UCR starter Sara Radabaugh
threw a complete game and held Santa Clara to just five hits
in improving to 5-14 on the season. The Highlanders got a
defensive lift from center fielder Jamie Yee, who with two
outs and the bases loaded in the first inning, crashed through
the temporary outfield fence to snag a long drive by Jillian
Cassel that appeared to have home run distance.
In the second game, freshman
Danira Iolamo earned her first collegiate win by throwing
four innings, allowing three hits and two earned runs while
striking out two. Fellow freshman Christin Songer earned the
save with three scoreless innings of one-hit work.
UC Riverside once again
took the early lead as pinch runner Veronica Yee stole home
on the back end of a double-steal with right fielder April
Murray. The Broncos came back to tie in the bottom of the
inning,
UCR took the lead for good
in the fourth as Salcido stroked a sacrifice fly to score
Black and first baseman Jenny Thompson followed with an RBI
single to plate second baseman Traci Bender for a 3-1 lead.
SCU answered with a single run in the bottom of the inning,
but the Highlanders tacked on a pair of runs in the fifth
when Murray and Jamie Yee singled and Sanchez stroked a two-out
double to give the Highlanders a 5-2 lead.
Sanchez got her third RBI
of the game in the seventh when she singled home Jamie Yee,
who had walked.
Murray finished with three
stolen bases for the Highlanders, while Sanchez recorded three
RBIs.
The Highlanders return to
action on Saturday as they host Ohio State University at 12
noon.
(Mar. 26, 2005) - UC Riverside
dropped a single game, 5-0 against the Ohio State University
at the Amy S. Harrison Field, Saturday.
It was a pitchers' duel
save one inning for the Buckeyes. Buckeye pitcher Jamee Juarez
improved to 12-6 with the win, pitching a complete game and
allowing only two hits with no runs while striking out nine.
Freshman starter Christin Songer took the loss for the Highlanders,
dropping to 4-9 on the season. Songer pitched 5.2 innings
before being relieved by Danira Iolamo. Songer allowed seven
hits and five runs, four coming in the third inning alone.
Songer struck out four while Iolamo struck out two in 1.1
innings of work.
Scoreless until the top
of the third inning, the Buckeyes charged ahead a pair on
a two-out double by left fielder Megan Schwab that scored
second baseman Nycole Koyano and pinch runner Chelsea Baker.
In the next at-bat, first baseman Christina Douglas homered
to center field which scored Schwab. The Buckeyes added another
in the sixth when designated player Ashley Cutcliff singled
to the shortstop to score pitcher Juarez.
UCR was out-hit nine-two
on the day, both hits coming from shortstop Mandi Salcido.
Overall, OSU improved to
16-8, while UCR dropped to 10-24.
The Highlanders' next home
engagement is on March 30 at the Amy S. Harrison Field when
they will host Loyola Marymount in an afternoon doubleheader.
(Mar. 30, 2005) - UC Riverside
split a non-conference doubleheader with Loyola Marymount
Wednesday at Amy S. Harrison Field. LMU won the first game
3-0 before the Highlanders bounced back with a 5-2 victory
in game two.
Kirsten Whitt and Kayla
Meeks each hit solo home runs in the first game to give LMU
(18-12) all the runs it would need. Whitt’s solo shot
in the third opened the scoring and Meeks helped her own cause
with her own blast in the fifth. The Lions added another run
in the sixth as Meeks (8-2) and Tiffany Pagano combined on
a four-hitter. Sara Radabaugh (5-15) took the loss for UCR,
allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits in 5 2/3 innings.
UCR (11-25) answered with
a 5-2 win in the second game. The Highlanders scored three
times in the third thanks to two Lion errors and heads-up
baserunning. April Murray led off the inning against Samantha
Lavino with a single then advanced to third on a failed pickoff
attempt. Jamie Yee walked and Pagano replaced Lavino on the
mound. Yee stole second and, after Jessica Black struck out,
Melissa Sanchez delivered a two-run double to centerfield.
Sanchez then stole third and came home when shortstop Brittany
Bassett bobbled Eliizabeth Buck’s grounder.
The Highlanders added to
their lead with two more runs in the fifth. Black and Sanchez
opened with singles and moved into scoring position on Buck’s
sacrifice bunt. A passed ball brought Black home before Dani
Bishop singled through the right side to make it 5-0. LMU
answered with two runs in the top of the sixth on a home run
by Bassett and RBI double by Megan Julian but would not score
again. Danira Iolamo improved to 2-0, throwing 5 2/3 innings
of four-hit ball. Christin Songer finished it off for her
first save.
UCR travels to UC Santa
Barbara this weekend for a doubleheader Saturday and single
game Sunday.
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