April 26, 2002
The UC Riverside Highlanders split a non-conference doubleheader against Santa Clara University, losing game one 2-0 and winning game two, 3-1 at the UCR Softball Field on Friday afternoon.
In game one, sophomore catcher Rachel Sherman hit a two-run homerun down the left field line for the only runs of the game to give Santa Clara (20-31) the 2-0 win. Bronco freshman pitcher Jennifer Ponzo (6-10) threw a complete game shutout, giving up only five hits and striking out one. Jenell Jackson (5-12) took the loss, going 2.2 innings, giving up two runs on three hits. Jessica Gandara relieved Jackson, going 4.1 innings and allowing three hits and striking out five.
Junior Coresta Salas preserved the win in the the seventh, with a diving catch.
In the finale, the Highlanders (11-38) got on the board first with an RBI single by Stephanie Avila, plating Colby Kelly and a sacrafice fly by Allison Solis that scored Sarah Smallwood, giving UCR a 2-0 lead. However, Sherman hit a solo blast in the fifth to cut the lead to 2-1, but Kelly added insurance in the sixth with a solo blast of her own.
Highlander starter Monique Baeza (4-20) gave up one run on three hits while Deanna Rodriguez (9-12) took the loss, giving up three runs on eight hits.
The Broncos return to action tomorrow, visiting LMU for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
