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(May 20, 2005) -The UC Riverside
Softball team has signed Stephanie Marshall from Concord,
CA and Krystal Marquez from Riverside, CA to National Letters
of Intent, Head Coach Connie Miner announced. The duo will
join the Highlanders for the 2005-2006 season.
Marshall will graduate from
College Park High school in June 2005. Marshall is a pitcher
and won the 2004 Diablo Foothill Athletic League Pitcher of
the Year Award as well as the 2004 All-League First Team.
Marshall has also won the North Coast Section Scholar-Athlete
Award from 2002-2004.
"We are excited to
have Stephanie joining our team because she is well rounded
on and off the field," Miner said. "She throws hard
and moves the ball very well."
Marquez will graduate from
Temescal Canyon High School in June 2005. Marquez is a utility
player with great speed and agility.
"You can see the passion
for the game in her face," Miner said. "She is a
spark plug and has fire, desire, energy, and enthusiasm and
will bring so much to the team."
"Both girls are involved
in awesome summer programs," Miner said. "Marquez
plays for Team Smith and Marshall plays for the Grapettes,
two great teams that will prepare them for their careers as
Highlanders. "
(June 27, 2005) -Katie Curtis,
a 2005 graduate of nearby Redlands East Valley HS, has signed
a letter of intent to join the UC Riverside softball program
in 2005-06.
"Katie is an outstanding
student-athlete," UCR Head Coach Connie Miner said. "
She brings power to the plate and versatility to our program.
She can play any infield position. She has a wonderful attitude
and a great work ethic. Katie is a true team player. I look
for her to challenge the infield."
Curtis, who lives in Highland,
is a three-time All Citrus Belt League First Team honoree.
As a senior she hit .439 with 36 hits and 17 RBI. She earned
CBL first team and All-County honors as a junior when she
batted .429 with 14 RBI, including the first-ever homer at
REV's Wildcat Field.
Curtis played on the California
Pirettes 14-and-under girls softball team that toured Japan
in 2001. Academically, Curtis was a member of the REV Honor
Court, registering in the top nine percent of her class.
(Oct. 5, 2005) -UC Riverside
Head Softball Coach Connie Miner announced the promotion of
Vicky Rios to associate head coach and the hiring of former
UCLA standout and Olympian Tairia Flowers as an assistant
coach.
Rios joined the staff as
an assistant coach in the fall of 2003 as the first new hire
by Miner. She has previously served as assistant head coach
at Cosumnes River College from 2001-03 and at Santa Clara
University from 1997-99. She played at Cal State Northridge,
reaching the College World Series in 1993 and 1994.
"I have known Vicky
for over nine years now," Miner said. "She joined
my staff at San Jose State and because of what I saw in her
there, she was the first person I called when I accepted the
head softball coaching position at UCR. She is all about academics,
commitment, hard work, professionalism and above all loyalty.
She is an outstanding teacher of the game of softball. I am
excited to give Vicky this much deserved title."
Flowers has been a member
of the USA National Team since 2001 and was on the 2004 Olympic
Gold Medalist team. She also won gold medals in the 2003 Pan
Am games, the 2002 World Championships and the 2001 U.S. Cup.
In 2005 she played with the Arizona Heat in the National Pro
Fastpitch league.
"I am thrilled to have
Tairia join my coaching staff at UCR. I cannot tell you how
much she has impressed me over the years as a college player,
in international competition and now as a member of my coaching
staff," Miner said. "Tairia only knows success and
all her experience on and off the field will be invaluable
to this softball program."
A four-year letterwinner
at UCLA, Flowers went to the Women's College World Series
in each year of her career and was a member of the 2003 National
Championship Team. She earned All-American honors in 2001
and 2003 and was a three-time member of the All-College World
Series Team.
She finished her collegiate
career with an average of .373 and 61 home runs. She also
started all 252 games she played at UCLA, while playing third
base, right field, catcher and first base. She holds the UCLA
career record in doubles with 59. While at UCLA she received
her Bachelor's degree in history with a minor in African-American
Studies, finishing her degree as she served as a fifth-year
undergraduate assistant under Head Coach Sue Enquist.
(Jan. 11, 2006) - The UC
Riverside Highlanders were selected to finish seventh in the
conference in the annual Big West Preseason Softball Coaches
Poll that was released Wednesday.
2006
BIG WEST PRESEASON
SOFTBALL COACHES POLL |
No. |
Team |
Points |
1. |
CS
Fullerton (6) |
48 |
2. |
Long
Beach St. (1) |
39 |
3. |
Cal
Poly |
32 |
4. |
UC
Santa Barbara |
26 |
|
Pacific |
26 |
6. |
CS
Northridge |
16 |
7. |
UC
Riverside |
9 |
(Feb.
10, 2006) - The UC Riverside Highlanders swept their two season-opening
games on day one of the UCR Softball Tournament at Amy S.
Harrison Field Friday. The Highlanders were victorious 5-4
over the Gaels of St. Mary's College, and won 12-5 over the
University of San Diego Torreros.
In
the first game the Gaels struck first scoring one in the top
of the third, but Riverside scored a quick two in the bottom
of the inning to take the lead after shortstop Kristie Martinez
scored 2nd baseman Hailey Marshall off a walk and catcher
Cassie Greenwalt singled through the right side to score center
fielder Jaime Yee. Riverside scored another three in the fourth
inning off of a two RBI double from Martinez and an RBI fielder's
choice from 1st baseman Jennifer Thompson. The Gaels came
back to score three in the sixth inning, but the Highlanders
were able to hold on for the win.
In
the topsy-turvy game two, UCR held a tight, two-run lead over
the Torreros of San Diego until the fourth inning when USD
took back the lead with an RBI double from the shortstop Ashlee
Nunes and a two RBI double from the centerfielder Rebekah
Bradford. The Highlanders took back the lead immediately with
two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth when third baseman
Melissa Sanchez hit a towering home run to center field. Riverside
scored five more in the top of the seventh off two single
RBIs from Yee and Martinez and a double RBI from Sanchez to
close out the game.
Riverside's
winning pitchers on the day were Sara Radabaugh in game one
and Stephanie Marshall in game two. Both are 1-0 on the season.
For the Gaels Chelsea Loftis took the loss dropping to 0-1
and for San Diego Erin Harmonson fell to 0-1.
In
the opening game of the tournament the San Jose State Spartans
were victorious over St. Mary's 6-0.
(Feb.
11, 2006) - The UC Riverside Highlanders extended their winning
streak to three games when they toppled the San Jose State
Spartans 9-7 at Amy S. Harrison Field Saturday.
The
Spartans started out aggressively, scoring five runs in the
opening inning including a two-run homer by designated player
Jessica Guillen. The Highlanders answered in the bottom of
the first by scoring four runs off of three RBI singles from
third baseman Melissa Sanchez, shortstop Kristie Martinez
and first baseman Jennifer Thompson.
UCR
added another two in the second off a RBI triple by Sanchez
and a RBI double from Martinez to take the lead. The Spartans
tied the game 6-6 in the top of the third when right fielder
Sarah Smith homered to left field, but UCR took back the lead
8-6 in the bottom of the fourth with two runs coming from
a Martinez double and a fielder's choice.
Despite
adding another run in the fifth, the Spartans were unable
to come back when the Highlanders added one final run in the
bottom of the sixth from a sacrifice fly by catcher Cassie
Greenawalt.
Highlander
pitcher Stephanie Marshall got her first win while Spartan
pitcher Kelly Harrison moved to 1-1. The Highlanders move
to 3-0 and the Spartans dropped to 2-1.
In
the opening game the University of San Diego Toreros fell
to the Spartans 5-3, but won the last game of the day 8-2
over the St. Mary's Gaels.
(Feb.
12, 2006) - – Senior third baseman Melissa Sanchez's
sixth inning grand slam helped the UC Riverside Highlanders
move to 4-0 on the season with a dramatic win 9-8 over the
St. Mary's Gaels at the UC Riverside Invitational Softball
Tournament at Amy S. Harrison Field Sunday.
Sanchez
golfed a line drive grand slam home run to left field off
Gael reliever Kate Albaugh to give the Highlanders a 9-8 lead
over the Gaels. The home run was Sanchez's second of the season.
Highlander
freshman pitcher Stephanie Marshall improved to 3-0 with the
win while Albaugh fell to 0-2.
As
the visiting team in the match-up, UCR struck first scoring
two runs in the opening inning off a pair of RBI singles by
junior shortstop Kristie Martinez and junior first baseman
Jennifer Thompson. St. Mary's struck back scoring one in the
first, and took the lead in the second when left fielder Marcia-Marie
Euker doubled to center field to score two runs. The Highlanders
tied the game in the third when Thompson batted in center
fielder Jaime Yee.
The
Gaels took back the lead 4-3 in the fourth inning off an RBI
single by Euker. Again UCR tied it up in the fifth off a sacrifice
fly by sophomore catcher Cassie Greenawalt, however in the
Gaels answered back in the bottom of the inning scoring four
runs, two coming in on bases loaded walks by UCR sophomore
starter Christin Songer and a two-run single by by Euker.
That set the stage for Sanchez's heroics
In the first game of the day the University of San Diego Torreros
won over the San Jose State Spartans 3-1.
Overall,
Sanchez hit .786 on the weekend (11-of-14) with a double,
triple and two homers. She scored six runs and had 10 RBI.
Martinez also had a strong weekend, batting .700 (7-of-10)
with eight RBI. Marshall pitched 12.1 innings over the weekend,
allowing only two runs, striking out 12 and walking three.
She finished with an ERA of 0.73.
(Feb.
13, 2006) - – The UC Riverside Highlanders swept the
Big West Player of the Week honors Monday, as senior third
baseman Melissa Sanchez won Player of the Week and freshman
hurler Stephanie Marshall won Pitcher of the Week, the conference
announced.
Sanchez,
a senior from Rosemead, CA, had a huge weekend, batting .786
(11-for-14) with a double, triple, two homers, six runs scored
and 10 RBI.
•
Her sixth inning grand slam against St. Mary's helped the
Highlanders overcome an 8-5 deficit and pull out a thrilling
9-8 win.
•
Sanchez also homered to give the Highlanders a 7-5 lead in
an eventual 12-5 win over San Diego.
•
Against San Jose State, her 3-for-3 performance helped the
Highlanders rally from a 5-0 first inning deficit.
•
She also played flawless defense, handling 12 chances without
an error at 3b.
Marshall,
a freshman from Concord, CA, went 3-0 in her first weekend
of collegiate competition, allowing just eight hits and one
earned run in 12.1 innings of relief work. Marshall struck
out 12 and walked three as she helped UCR to a 4-0 record.
•
Marshall got her first collegiate win with 3.2 innings of
five-hit shutout work against USD Friday.
•
On Saturday she came in in relief of starter Sara Radabaugh,
who had surrendered five first inning runs against San Jose
State before being struck in the face by a line drive. Marshall
surrendered just two runs, one earned, in 6.1 innings of work,
allowing just two hits. The Highlanders rallied from the early
deficit to post a 9-7 win.
•
Marshall came into a bases loaded situation in the fifth inning
against St. Mary's, but worked out of it allowing just a pair
of runs to score on a bloop single. UCR trailed 8-4 at the
time, but the Highlanders rallied with five runs, four on
the Sanchez slam, in the top of the sixth. Marshall then took
over, retiring the side in order in the sixth and seventh,
striking out three of the final four batters to clinch the
win.
(Feb.
16, 2006) – The softball doubleheader between Utah Valley
State and host UC Riverside scheduled for Saturday February
18th has been canceled it was announced Wednesday.
The
games were canceled due to scheduling conflicts and will not
be made up.
The Highlanders will return to action Sunday, February 19th
when they visit Loyola Marymount. UCR returns home Tuesday
February 21st to host UCLA.
(Feb.
19, 2006) - Inclement weather has forced the postponement
of Sunday's scheduled softball doubleheader between UC Riverside
and host Loyola Marymount. The games have not yet been rescheduled.
(Feb.
21, 2006) – The visiting No. 3 ranked UCLA Bruins held
on for a 2-0 win over the host UC Riverside Highlanders in
a non-conference game in front of 267 fans at Amy S. Harrison
Field in Riverside Tuesday.
With the win, the Bruins improved to 8-1, while the Highlanders
suffered their first loss of the year, falling to 4-1.
The Highlanders rallied
in the bottom of the seventh. loading the bases with nobody
out on singles by first baseman Jennifer Thompson and left
fielder Jessica Black and a fielder's choice sacrifice by
designated player Krystal Marquez. But Bruin starter Lisa
Dodd (4-0) settled down and shut the door on UCR, getting
Hailey Marshall to ground into a fielder's choice, then striking
out April Murray looking. Jamie Yee was the Highlanders' last
hope, but Dodd got her to bounce back to the box for the final
out.
UCR junior starter Sara
Radabaugh (1-1) was the hard luck loser, despite having pitched
one of the finest games of her career. Radabaugh allowed just
three hits and one earned run in her seven innings of work,
walking two and striking out four. Dodd allowed seven hits,
walking one and striking out five.
The Bruins scored an unearned
run in the third when Tara Henry walked, stole second and
went to third when UCR catcher Cassie Greenawalt's throw sailed
into the outfield. Moments later Andrea Duran lifted a sacrifice
fly that plated Henry for a 1-0 lead.
The second run came in the
fifth as Ashley Herrera walked with one out, stole second
and advanced to third on a flyball to left by Henry. Duran
then followed with a double to center to score Herrera.
The Highlanders got two
hits each from Thompson and Marshall. The Highlanders left
eight runners on base on the afternoon.
(Feb.
25, 2006) – The UC Riverside Highlanders experienced
both ends of a shutout Saturday, defeating Utah State 8-0,
then falling to Nevada 10-0 on day one of the University of
San Diego Tournament in San Diego.
In the opener, UCR sophomore
Christin Songer earned her first win of the season with a
shutout. She allowed five hits, walked five and struck out
eight in seven innings of work. She reaped the benefits of
a potent Highlander offense that scored early and often. They
scored a pair of runs in the second, a single run in the third,
two in the fourth and three in the seventh. The Aggies helped
the Highlanders with four errors, leading to three unearned
runs.
Junior catcher Cassie Greenawalt
went 3-for-4 on the afternoon with an RBI. Senior Jessica
Black, and juniors Kristie Martinez and Jennifer Thompson
each had two RBI. Senior Melissa Sanchez had a pair of hits,
including a homer, and had three runs scored.
Things didn't go so well
in the nightcap as Nevada's Puzey burned the Highlanders for
a homer and a double and six RBI. Her fourth inning grand
slam off of UCR reliever Sara Radabaugh was the big blow that
put the game out of reach.
UCR had five hits in the
game and struggled defensively, committing four errors. Stephanie
Marshall took the loss for the Highlanders, surrendering five
runs and six hits in three innings of work.
(Feb.
26, 2006) – The UC Riverside Highlanders won both of
their games at the University of San Diego Tournament in San
Diego, defeating Utah State, 5-4 and host San Diego, 4-0.
In the opener against Utah
State, an RBI triple by right fielder Jessica Black scored
first baseman Jennifer Thompson, who had reached on a fielder's
choice, to give the Highlanders the 5-4 win. Black was 3-for-4
with two RBI in the win. Melissa Sanchez added a pair of hits
in three at bats.
Stephanie Marshall earned
the win for the Highlanders in relief, allowing one earned
run in two innings of work.
In the nightcap, Cristin
Songer threw her second consecutive shutout, allowing just
four hits and walking three against the host Toreros. Third
baseman Melissa Sanchez supplied most of the offense, driving
in three runs with a pair of singles in three at bats. Black
added another RBI to cap the scoring in the 4-0 win.
In all, the Highlanders
went 3-1 over the weekend and are now 7-2 on the season. They
play in the Malihini Kipa Aloha Softball Tournament in Honolulu
beginning Friday.
(March
2, 2006) – Senior LF Jessica Black hit a grand slam
in the bottom of the sixth inning to lift UC Riverside to
an 8-7 victory over Florida International University in the
first game of the Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament Thursday
in Honolulu, Hawai'i.
Trailing 7-3 entering the
bottom of the sixth, UCR (8-2) battled back with a five-run
frame. With two outs they started to rally, Angie Loa had
a pinch hit up the middle. The next batter, Kristie Martinez,
was hit by a pitch, moving Loa to second. Cassie Greenawalt
then got another single with a hit to right. FIU pitcher Kerri
Houck then walked one run in. Up stepped Black, who promptly
hit a grand slam home run over the leftfield fence to push
the Highlanders to a 8-7 lead over the Golden Panthers.
Stephanie Marshall got the
win for UC Riverside in relief, throwing 2.2 innings and giving
up two runs on two hits with three walks with one strike out.
Black finished the day with five RBI while Thompson was 1-for-1
with two RBI and three walks.
Florida International (6-10)
got on the scoreboard first, posting a single run in the top
half of the first. With two out, Tabitha Embry hit a double
down the third baseline. The following batter, Ashley Falk,
came through with a clutch single to center to score Embry
easily from second.
UC Riverside answered right
back in the bottom of the first. FIU's pitcher Penny Eastman
walked the first two batters of the game. She then retired
Melissa Sanchez on a fly ball to center and Martinez struck
out swinging. But Eastman continued to have trouble with the
strike zone, walking Greenawalt and then Thompson, forcing
a run home to knot the score at 1-1.
The Highlanders broke the
tie in the bottom of the third, scoring two runs to take the
early lead. Martinez walked with one out, stole second, then
came in on a fielding error on FIU's second baseman on a groundball
hit by Greenawalt. Greenawalt advanced to second on a base
hit to leftfield, and then scored on a sacrifice fly to right
by Black to extend the UCR lead to 3-1.
The Golden Panthers then
had an offensive onslaught in the top of the fifth that knocked
out UCR starter Sara Radabaugh. Samantha Card led the inning
off with a walk. With one out, FIU strung together four straight
hits, including a double by Falk. Add to that, three walks
and two wild pitches and you have six run inning.
Houck took the loss for
the Golden Panthers, throwing 2.0 innings giving up five runs
on three hits while walking two and striking out three.
(March
6, 2006) - UC Riverside split a pair of games at the Malihini
Kipa Aloha Tournament Thursday in Honolulu, Hawai'i. The Highlanders
defeated Mercer, 6-3, in a game that was resumed after being
halted by rain on Saturday. Then, the Highlanders dropped
a 5-2 decision to Mississippi Valley State. UCR fell to 9-3.
It took two days, but the
Highlanders posted a 6-3 win over Mercer. UCR posted five
runs in the third inning, the big blows being a two run shot
by shortstop Kristie Martinez and a three run bomb by designated
hitter Kacie Curtis. Starter Christin Songer was the beneficiary
of the onslaught, allowing eight hits and three earned runs
while striking out seven in seven innings of work.
Things didn;t go so well
later in the day as the Highlanders fell to Mississippi Valley
State, 5-2. MVS got to UCR starter Sara Radabaugh for four
runs in the first inning and never looked back. Radabaugh
pitched well from there, allowing seven hits and four earned
runs while striking out seven in six innings.
The Highlanders got a pair
of runs back in the third on a two-run homer by Melissa Sanchez,
but that was all they could muster on their six hits.
(March
8, 2006) - The UC Riverside Highlanders swept two games against
the Loyola University Chicago Ramblers winning 2-1 and 9-0
at Amy S. Harrison Field Wednesday.
In
the opening game of the doubleheader, UC Riverside took the
lead in the second inning when pinch runner Ynez Canela got
to home on a wild pitch by Laura DeLeon. UCR added another
run in the fourth when pinch hitter Rachel Crawford singled
home left fielder Krystal Marquez. In the fifth, the Ramblers
stole a run when third baseman Kaycee Tharp scored on a walk,
but it would be all Loyola could muster.
For
the Highlanders, starting pitcher Christin Songer improved
to 4-0 while Highlander reliever Sara Radabaugh got the save,
allowing only one hit in the 2.2 innings she pitched. Loyola
pitcher DeLeon dropped to 1-2.
It
took the Highlanders only five innings to win game two, winning
9-0 by virtue of the mercy rule. UCR had a total of 10 hits
in the game. UCR's opening run in the first came by way of
a fielder's choice, and they added another four in the second
during a two-out rally. Pinch runner Krystal Marquez scored
off a single by right fielder April Murray and shortstop Kristie
Martinez batted in three runs when she doubled to left center.
In
the third, catcher Cassie Greenawalt scored when Marquez grounded
out to second base. UCR added its final three runs in the
bottom of the fourth as the first three batters singled to
load the bases. Murray scored on a walk, center fielder Jaime
Yee got to home by way of a sac fly from Greenawalt and third
baseman Melissa Sanchez passed home plate when first baseman
Jennifer Thompson singled up the middle.
Highlander
pitcher Stephanie Marshall improved to 6-1 with the win while
Rambler hurler Krista Crosson dropped to 0-6.
UC
Riverside improved to 11-3 while Loyola fell to 1-9.
(March
10, 2006) - The UC Riverside Highlanders scored three runs
in the bottom of the sixth inning to stage a come from behind
victory 7-5 over the Hampton University Lady Pirates in their
first game of the Amy S. Harrison Classic at Amy S. Harrison
Field Friday.
Senior
third baseman Melissa Sanchez provided the heroics in the
sixth inning as she launched her fifth home run of the season,
a Herculean blast over the center field fence to give the
Highlanders a 6-5 lead. UCR added an insurance run when shortstop
Kristie Martinez singled and later scored when left fielder
Angela Balser dropped a line drive off the bat of left fielder
Jessica Black.
Hampton
held a 5-0 lead until the top of the fifth inning, but at
that point the Highlanders began to mount their come-back
charge. In the bottom of the fifth inning, center fielder
Jaime Yee tripled to start things off. Sanchez then reached
on a fielder's choice and both were batted in by a double
to center from Martinez. Then with two outs, Black tripled
to right field sending home Martinez. Black then scored UCR's
final run of the inning on an error by third baseman Maggie
Wolfe.
Freshman
reliever Stephanie Marshall got her seventh win after allowing
only three hits in five innings pitched. Hampton hurler Ashley
Weissenbach gave up six runs in the loss dropping to 2-4.
In
the day's two prior games the Radford University Highlanders
won against Hampton 5-0 and were victorious over the Quinnipiac
University Bobcats 9-0 in five innings by virtue of the mercy
rule.
(March
10, 2006) - The UC Riverside Highlanders went 1-1 in their
two games Saturday, losing 1-0 in eight innings against Radford
University and beating Quinnipiac University 10-0 in four
innings during day two of the Amy S. Harrison Classic at Amy
S. Harrison Field.
UCR
mercied the Quinnipiac Bobcats 10-0, scoring five runs in
the third and fourth innings. Center fielder Jaime Yee went
2-2 on the day, driving in four runs, while catcher Cassie
Greenawalt went 2-3 and had 3 RBI. Also, third baseman Melissa
Sanchez, shortstop Kristie Martinez and first baseman Jennifer
Thompson drove in one run apiece.
Highlander
starter Christin Songer stayed undefeated with the win, making
her 5-0 on the season. She struck out five while allowing
only four hits. Bobcat pitcher Kim Norman took the loss allowing
five hits, three earned runs and walking three.
UCR's
prior game was a genuine pitchers duel, but they came up on
the short end of a 1-0 decision. Radford starter Breanna Felix
improved to 7-3 on the season as she pitched a complete game,
allowing only three hits and striking out 11. Highlander pitcher
Stephanie Marshall gave up only one run and struck out two
batters and dropped to 7-2.
The
Highlanders' first game went into extra innings using the
international tiebreaker. With UCR acting as visiting team
they went three up three down in the top of the inning. In
the bottom of the inning first baseman Danielle Tompkins hit
a sacrifice bunt down the left field line and left fielder
Michelle Carlson who had been placed on second base at the
start of the inning then scored on a throwing error to end
the game.
The
Highlanders are now 13-4 on the season.
In
the day's opening game Hampton University blanked Quinnipiac
6-0.
(March
12, 2006) - The UC Riverside Highlanders topped the Hampton
University Lady Pirates 8-0 to close out the 2006 Amy S. Harrison
Classic at Amy S. Harrison Field Sunday.
The
Highlanders scored three runs in the second inning and another
five in the sixth to shut out the Pirates. Center fielder
Jaime Yee had another big game, going 1-4 and driving in three
runs. Shortstop Kristie Martinez went 1-3 with 2 RBI. Catcher
Cassie Greenawalt and first baseman Jennifer Thompson also
had one RBI apiece.
UCR
started quickly in the third inning as left fielder Jessica
Black, designated player Krystal Marquez, and second baseman
Hailey Marshall all singled to load the bases. Black then
scored when a wild pitch by Pirate starter Kera Mathes got
passed catcher Jennifer Gonzales. Yee then smacked a double
to center field to score Marshall and Marquez.
In
the sixth, Marquez lead off with a double to left field. Then
with two outs Yee reached on an error by second baseman Brittany
Davis. Martinez later tripled to center field to send home
Yee and Sanchez who had walked. Greenawalt reached on another
error by Davis and Thompson doubled to center to end the game.
Highlander
pitcher Stephanie Marshall improved to 8-2 with the win while
Pirate starter Kera Mathes dropped to
5-6.
The
Highlanders moved ended up with a 3-1 record in the tournament
while Hampton was 1-3.
In
the first game of the day, Radford University mercied Quinnipiac
University 9-0; Radford went 4-0 in the tournament while Quinnipiac
dropped to 0-4.
(March
14, 2006) - The UC Riverside Highlanders improved to 16-4
on the season with a hard-fought doubleheader sweep of Quinnipiac
University at Amy S. Harrison Field Tuesday. The Highlanders
won game one, 9-1, and took game two in thrilling fashion,
3-1, off a walk-off two run homer by senior left fielder Jessica
Black.
UCR's 16 wins on the season
is the most in the school's Division I history, eclipsing
the 15 recorded last season. Quinnipiac fell to 3-13.
The Highlander bats awoke
early in the opener, as UCR scored twice in the first and
three times in both the second and third to take an 8-0 lead
after three. The Bobcats avoided the mercy-rule shutout in
the fourth when they pushed across a two-out run without benefit
of a hit, as shortstop Alyssa Mansolf led off with a walk
and later came home on a two-out wild pitch by UCR freshman
starter Stephanie Marshall to make the score 8-1. But the
Highlanders returned the favor in the bottom of the sixth
inning as Black doubled and came home a few moments later
on a wild pitch to give the Highlanders a 9-1 mercy rule win.
Marshall had a no-hitter
through five innings before Maria Browne beat out a single
to shortstop with one out in the sixth. It would be the only
hit she surrendered on the day, as she walked two and struck
out seven in six innings of work. Kristin Sheriff took the
loss for the Bobcats, allowing five earned runs and five hits
in 2.1 innings.
Junior shortstop Kristie
Martinez led the Highlanders with three RBI, two coming on
her first inning opposite field blast that gave UCR a 2-0
lead. Junior first baseman Jennifer Thompson and junior second
baseman Hailey Marshall each had two hits for UCR.
The nightcap started as
a pitchers' duel and ended with a bang. UCR junior starter
Sara Radabaugh and Quinnipiac starter Jessica Skaare each
pitched outstanding games, as Radabaugh carried a no-hitter
into the sixth inning, while Skaare allowed just a first inning
double through the first six innings.
With two out in the seventh,
Bobcat designated player Kim Norman crushed a Radabaugh offering
over the wall in left center, ending the shutout and the no-hitter,
and giving the Bobcats their first lead of the day, 1-0.
But Skaare had to get through
the middle of the Highlanders lineup to earn the win, and
senior third baseman Melissa Sanchez cut the Bobcats' celebration
short as she crushed a towering homer to left, her sixth of
the season, to tie the score at 1-1. Skaare settled down to
get the next two outs, but freshman first baseman Katie Curtis
beat out a ground ball to second to keep the inning alive.
Then, Black brought the afternoon to a close with her second
homer of the season, a line drive that easily cleared the
scoreboard in left to give UCR a 3-1 win.
Radabaugh improved to 2-2
with one hit in seven innings of work, striking out seven
and walking four. Skaare fell to 0-5, despite a great outing
where she allowed four hits and three earned runs in 6.2 innings.
(March
17, 2006) - St. Patrick's Day wasn't full of fun for the UC
Riverside Highlanders, as they lost three games at the New
Mexico State Tournament in Albuquerque Friday. UCR
dropped games to South Dakota State, 9-6 and New Mexico, 6-2
and 5-1.
The Highlanders opened against
South Dakota State and started strong, scoring single runs
in each of the first four innings, but SDS tied the game with
two runs in each of the third and fourth innings, then capped
it with four runs in the top of the fifth to take an 8-4 lead.
UCR tallied two in the bottom of the inning, but could get
no closer than 8-6. SDS finished the scoring with a single
run in the top of the seventh for the 9-6 win.
UCR freshman starter Stephanie
Marshall was roughed up, allowing six earned runs on six hits
in 4.1 innings of work, falling to 9-3 on the season. Junior
shortstop Kristie Martinez was 2-for-4 with a homer and three
RBI, while senior third baseman Melissa Sanchez was 3-for-3
with two runs, a homer and an RBI. Senior left fielder Jessica
Black also homered in the game.
The Highlanders faced host
New Mexico in game two, but their bats went mostly silent
as Sanchez's sixth inning two run homer was the only offensive
output in the 6-2 loss. Sophomore starter Christin Songer
suffered her first loss of the year, falling to 5-1 as she
allowed six earned runs on six hits and five walks in 5.1
innings.
In the final game of the
day, Black blasted a solo homer in the second inning, but
that was all the offense the Highlanders could muster as they
fell to the Lobos, 5-1. Junior starter Sara Radabaugh allowed
four earned runs on five hits in six innings of work, striking
out six.
(March
18, 2006) - The UC Riverside Highlanders rebounded from a
rough Friday to post a 5-1 win over Texas Tech at the University
of New Mexico Tournament Saturday. The second game between
UCR and Texas Tech was cancelled due to high winds.
Junior Kristie Martinez
continued her haot hitting, going 3-for-3 with a pair of RBI.
Sophomore April Murray and senior Melissa Sanchez each had
two hits for UCR, and junior catcher Cassie Greenawalt had
three RBI, two coming on a third inning homer that made the
score 3-1 for the Highlanders. UCR added a pair in the fourth
to finish out the scoring.
Freshman starter Stephanie
Marshall got the win with a complete game, improving to 10-3
on the season. She allowed one run, unearned, and allowed
six hits while striking out five.
The Red Raiders committed
four errors on the day.
Following the tournament,
Sanchez was named to the All-Tournament team.
(March
20, 2006) - UC Riverside senior Melissa Sanchez (Rosemead,
CA) earned Big West Softball Player of the Week honors after
putting on another power display, as five of her 10 hits went
for extra bases. It is the second time this season she has
received the honor.
The
5-10 third baseman was 10-for-17 (.588) at the plate in six
games, helping the Highlanders to a 3-3 record. Sanchez recorded
two doubles and three home runs while scoring four times and
posting four RBI.
She
hit a game-tying home run in the seventh inning of a 3-1 victory
versus Quinnipiac on Tuesday. She added a double to finish
the game 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Despite her team's
1-3 record at the Lobo Classic, Sanchez earned all-tournament
honors after going 8-for-11 with homers in each of the first
two games. She had a 3-for-3 day against South Dakota State
with a longball and provided UCR's only runs of a 6-2 loss
against host New Mexico with a two-run bomb.
For
the season, Sanchez is hitting .515 with eight homers and
24 RBI, and boasts a .971 slugging percentage.
(March
26, 2006) - The UC Riverside Highlanders softball team improved
to 19-7 on the season with a sweep of a non-conference doubleheader
against the University of San Diego Sunday. The Highlanders,
showing no ill effects from an eight-day layoff due to finals,
the Highlanders posted a 6-0 win in the opener and a 7-2 decision
in the nightcap.
In the opener, freshman pitcher Stephanie Marshall
improved to 11-3 with her third shutout of the season. But
Marshall didn't have an easy time of it, allowing a hit in
every inning. She was able to bear down when it counted, working
her way of bases loaded, one out situation in the fifth inning
and a second and third situation with two outs in the sixth
inning to preserve the shutout. In all, Marshall forced the
Toreros to strand 12 runners in the first game.
Junior first baseman Jennifer
Thompson provided the bulk of the offense for UCR, going three-for-three
with three RBI. Her RBI double off of the wall in center scored
the first run in the Highlanders' three-run fourth, and she
added a two-run single in the fifth to make the score 5-0.
Junior pinch hitter Rachel
Crawford had a two-run pinch single in the third inning and
freshman Krystal Marquez stole home on the front end of a
double steal in the sixth to account for UCR's other runs.
Torero starter Erin Harmonson
took the loss, falling to 7-7.
In game two, the Highlanders
took advantage of wildness by Torero starter Christina Haake
to tally four runs in the third inning. Junior second baseman
Hailey Marshall walked and sophomore right fielder April Murray
followed with a single. After senior center fielder Jamie
Yee sacrificed the runners over, senior third baseman Melissa
Sanchez was walked intentionally, loading the bases. Junior
shortstop Kristie Martinez thwarted the strategy by stroking
a single up the middle to score the first run. One out later,
Thompson drew a bases loaded walk to force in the second run,
and senior leftfielder Jessica Black capped the scoring with
a bloop single to left to score a pair of runs and give the
Highlanders a 4-0 lead.
UCR added three runs in
the bottom of the fourth on RBI singles by Sanchez and Martinez
and an RBI double by Greenawalt, chasing Haake (3-5). The
Highlanders' bid to end things early was stopped when reliever
Gina McFarland deflected Thompson's high hopper up the middle
towards second baseman Emily Passovoy, whose throw just nipped
Thompson at the bag.
USD scored a pair in the
bottom of the fifth when Sara Mason's two RBI single scored
Ashlee Nunes and Nichole Valenzuela.
UCR starter Christin Songer
moved to 6-1 with the complete game win, scattering seven
hits and allowing two earned runs while striking out four.
The Highlanders begin a
series of 10 straight games on the road with a doubleheader
against St. Mary's in Moraga on March 28.
(March
30, 2006) - The UC Riverside Highlanders lost both ends of
a doubleheader Thursday, dropping the opener 7-1, then falling
in the nightcap, 6-3. The Highlanders fell to 19-9
with the losses.
The Highlanders struck first
in game one as sophomore catcher Cassie Greenawalt knocked
in sophomore right fielder April Murray, who led off with
a single. But that was all the offense the Highlanders would
muster, as they managed just one hit the rest of the afternoon.
Meanwhile, the Hornets scored five times in the third inning,
as freshman starter Stephanie Marshall surrendered back-to-back
homers to start the inning, then surrendered four more hits
before giving way to sophomore Christin Songer.
The Hornets added another
two runs in the fourth on another homer.
Marshall fell to 11-4, allowing
eight hits and five earned runs in 2.1 innings.
UCR again got on the board
in the first inning of game two as senior center fielder Jamie
Yee scored on a wild pitch. The Hornets answered in the bottom
of the inning with a single run, then scored again to take
a 2-1 lead in the third. A three-run rally in the fourth inning
against UCR junior starter Sara Radabaugh (2-4) gave the Hornets
a 5-1 lead.
UCR scored a pair in the
top of the fifth as junior shortstop Kristie Martinez scored
Yee, and then freshman pinch runner Tricia Adgar came home
on a wild pitch to make the score 5-3. But the Hornets again
answered with a single run in the bottom of the inning to
make the final margin 6-3.
The Highlanders had just
two hits in the nightcap, but reached on nine walks by Hornet
starter Cassie Cervantes, who also struck out 12.
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