Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Riverside- The UC Riverside Softball Team moved to 5-2 on the season after defeating both Fresno State and Santa Clara in its two opening games at the Fresno State Kickoff Friday evening. The Highlanders first topped Fresno State 4-2, then downed Santa Clara 4-3.

Chelsea Ponce got things started on the mound for the Highlanders in game one, pitching six innings and striking out four batters before freshman Rebecca Faulkner stepped onto the mound to close out the game, earning her first save.

Fresno State struck early, taking advantage of three wild pitches in the first inning to score one of its two runs. The Bulldogs would get their second and final run across in the third inning before the Highlanders took control. Karina Romero would earn an RBI in the fifth, hitting a double out to right center that would bring in Kris DeAnda. Smart base running by the Highlanders would bring in three more runs in the seventh inning to clinch their first victory of the tournament.

Starting on the mound for the second game for UCR was Marcilena Valenzuela, pitching three innings, before passing the torch to Kaylyn Pierce who threw for one inning, striking out two of seven batters faced. Alyssa Razo would then take over for two innings, and returning to close things out for the Highlanders was Faulkner

After a scoreless three innings, UC Riverside pushed across the first run of the game as Haley Harris started the fourth inning with a lead-off triple, crossing the plate on a fly ball hit to center field by Faulkner. Madeline Richard, a newcomer from Central Arizona, would be the first Highlander to record a home run on the season, scoring UCR's fourth run of the game.

The both the Broncos and the Highlanders would score two runs in the fifth but Richard's home run would give UC Riveriside the edge it needed to close out the game.

The Highlanders are back in action tomorrow, Feb. 14 at 3:45 pm PT as they take on Sacramento State.