Umpqua softball notches first win in progam’s history

FOREST GROVE — The Umpqua Riverhawks softball team began its first season with a split on the road at Pacific University on Wednesday.

UCC (1-1) took an early lead against the Boxers in the opener, but couldn’t hang on in a 4-3 loss.

The Riverhawks grabbed the lead with three runs in the third inning. Torrin Richardson drove in the first run of the season when she reached on an error, allowing Ella Wright to score.

Richardson, who started in the circle for Umpqua, allowed a pair of runs on a two-out single in the bottom of the third and Pacific tied the game in the fourth on an RBI groundout.

NCAA Division III Pacific (1-1) took the lead in the fifth inning on an RBI single by Ryanne Yoshimura.

Umpqua had chances to tie the game in the sixth and seventh innings, but left the runner stranded in scoring position both times.

Wright reached base three times on walks in the leadoff position. Jordan McArthur went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles and Bella Garza, playing in her home town, had a double in the second inning for the first hit in Riverhawks’ program history.

UCC shook off the defeat and took down Pacific 13-11 in the nightcap.

Umpqua was behind 10-3 after five innings, but scored 10 runs combined in the sixth and seventh innings for the comeback.

Wright had three hits for the Riverhawks in the program’s first-ever victory. Richardson pitched a complete-game to earn the win on the rubber.

UCC will play another doubleheader at Pacific again on Friday.