LOS ANGELES – Bethune-Cookman fell to UC Riverside by a score of 7-0 on Saturday afternoon at Smith Field, as part of the LMU/Muscle Milk Softball Invitational hosted by Loyola Marymount University. With the loss, B-CU drops to 0-4 on its west coast swing in California.
UC Riverside (26-7) used strong pitching in the game, as Chelsea Ponce went the distance in the circle, registering a complete-game, no-hit shutout for the Highlanders.
Bethune-Cookman (6-24) countered with Sabrina Anguiano in the circle, as the Hacienda Heights, California native surrendered just one run on two hits through the first three innings.
With UC Riverside clinging to a 1-0 lead, the Highlanders broke open a tight contest with five runs in the top-half of the fourth inning.
The Highlanders began the inning with back-to-back triples as first baseman Rebecca Faulkner plated Harris with the second of consecutive three-baggers. Shortstop Kris DeAnda picked up Harris from third with a RBI single to right field, giving her team a 3-0 advantage. Later in the inning, Karina Romero placed a two-out single to right, just in front of B-CU's Breanna Chavez, plating a pair of runs in the form of Stephanie Tickemyer and Taylor Wright. Romero would eventually end up at third on the play after an error charged to Chavez on the throw, which allowed Jenna Curtain to score from first, pushing the lead out to 6-0.
UC Riverside would add a run in the seventh for good measure, bringing the score to the final 7-0 margin.
DeAnda picked up her second RBI single of the game as she drove in Samantha Hernandez who was pinch running for Erika Campbell. The designated hitter Campbell drew a walk to lead off the inning.
In picking up the victory, Ponce surrendered just a single base on balls to second baseman Kaitlin Alamprese. With the win, she improved her record to 18-3 on the year.
The Bethune-Cookman offense was held in check without a hit in the game, but the Maroon and Gold put three players aboard with a pair of Highlanders errors and the walk drawn from Alamprese.
Anguiano was tagged with the loss as she went the distance in the circle, allowing seven runs (six earned) on 11 hits. She walked three and struck out one. In the loss, she dropped her record to 3-20 on the campaign.
The Wildcats conclude their stint on the west coast Sunday with a single game against Seattle. First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m. PST. Follow all the action at the LMU/Muscle Milk Softball Invitational by clicking here.
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