Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Riverside--The UC Riverside Softball team earned a split in the double header against Canisius behind Kaylynn Pierce's career-high nine strikeouts in a complete game, three hit, one-run effort in game two.

In the first game of the day against Canisius (1-6), both teams went scoreless for the first three innings. In the fourth, the visitors got on the board with an RBI single to center. They followed that score up with a solo homer in the fifth. 

Natalie Sanchez, who was inserted back into the lineup in the bottom of the fifth after being pinch ran for, led off the inning with a solo home run to left field to bring the Highlanders within one, 2-1. With two outs in the top of the seventh the Griffins would tack on two runs thanks to a throwing error that allowed a score, followed by an RBI single up the middle single.

UCR (3-4) was unable to mount a rally in the final inning, and a just got one runner on base before making the final out in the, 4-1, loss in the opening game of the double header. 

Pierce got her first start of the season in the second game with Taylor Misfeldt throwing over 150 pitches in game one. The Highlanders struck in the third inning when Shylene Helms scored on a throwing error committed on a Jenna curtain ground ball to make it, 1-0.

In the fifth inning the Highlanders exploded for five runs on six hits.  Chelsea Holly had a two-run double, Sanchez and Tickemyer both drove in one run each. Heads up base running induced a throwing error that allowed Brittney Garcia score the sixth run for the home team. 

Pierce remained clean until the seventh when the visitors got one across on a double steal, but would allow no more. She struck out a career-high nine hitters and would allow just three hits and the one run en route to leading the Highlanders to a, 6-1, victory. 

Sanchez hit her first homerun of the season, to go along with a double and two RBI's on a three hit day for the senior. Holley drove in two on the day and Maddy Richard went 3-for-4 in game two of the double header. 

The UC Riverside softball team returns the action Thursday, when they host Army at 2 pm