UC Riverside’s knack for pouncing on opportunities paired with Chelsea Ponce’s pitching sent the Highlanders to a breakthrough win over the University of Hawaii softball team in the opening game of the Big West season Friday night.

UCR managed just three hits off UH right-hander Kanani Aina Cabrales, but Natalie Sanchez’s pinch-hit single in the fifth inning and Taylor Wright’s sacrifice fly in the seventh accounted for UCR’s scoring in a 2-1 win at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

Ponce, the nation’s leader in victories, gave up five hits, struck out four and walked five, but worked out of trouble to strand 10 UH runners and improve to 21-3. 

UCR has won 12 of its past 13, and Friday’s victory was the Highlanders’ first over UH (19-15) since the Rainbow Wahine rejoined the Big West in 2013. 

"Chelsea Ponce, when she’s on, she gives us a chance and we can let our offense get going," UCR coach Linda Garza said. "I don’t think our offense really got going today. … Right now a lot of things are going our way, so we’re going to keep going with that."

The Wahine and Highlanders conclude the series with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 4 p.m.

Aina Cabrales (9-10) went the distance for UH, walked three and didn’t record a strikeout. She didn’t allow a runner past first base for the first 42/3 innings and  retired eight consecutive hitters before issuing a walk to Wright with two out in the top of the fifth with UH protecting a 1-0 lead.

A passed ball advanced Wright to second and Sanchez worked the count full before lining a single to right-center to drive in the tying run.

After UH left the bases loaded in the sixth, Rebecca Faulkner singled to lead off the top of the seventh and Kris DeAnda followed with a bunt. UH third baseman Rachel Lack’s throw to first was wild, allowing Faulkner to advance to third. With one out, Wright lifted a fly ball to felt field to score pinch runner Samantha Hernandez with the go-ahead run.

"It was definitely a pitchers’ duel. I felt the hitters on both sides were struggling to string together hits, but toward the end their team just got the best of it executing their bunts and hitting when they needed to," Aina Cabrales said.

Hawaii shuffled the lineup with shortstop Sarina Jaramillo, the team’s second-leading hitter, out for the weekend due to injury.

The Wahine took the lead in the bottom of the third without hitting a ball out of the infield.

Keiki Carlos reached on a two-base throwing error on a grounder to shortstop and advanced to third on Kayla Wartner’s groundout. An error on Heather Morales’ grounder to second then allowed Carlos to score.

UH threatened to add to the lead in the fourth when Lack lined a single to center with Kristina Akiona on second. But UCR center fielder Jenna Curtan’s throw to the plate arrived ahead of Akiona to end the inning.

"You knew at that moment if they were going to make a move it was going to be right then," Coolen said.

After UCR tied the game in the fifth and moved ahead in the top of the seventh, Leisha Li’ili’i drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the inning and pinch runner Jordan Burton advanced on a wild pitch. But UCR second baseman Haley Harris snared Lindsey Willmon’s grounder in the hole and threw to first ahead of a diving Willmon to end the game.

"Ten left on base, that’s not going to win ballgames, and a team like Riverside is going to take it to you because they’re on a roll — winning begets winning," UH coach Bob Coolen said. "Winning is in their veins right now with Ponce on the mound."

Chelsea Ponce and Chelsey Holley. Kanani Aina Cabrales and Kayla Wartner. W–Ponce. L–Aina Cabrales. 

Leading hitters–UC Riverside: Natalie Sanchez, RBI; Taylor Wright, RBI. Hawaii: Heather Morales, RBI.

Friday

UC Riverside 2, Hawaii 1

Saturday

UC Riverside at Hawaii (DH), 4 p.m. HT

CS Fullerton at UCSB (DH)

Cal Poly at CSUN (DH)

UC Davis at Long Beach State (DH)

Sunday

CS Fullerton at UCSB (DH)

Cal Poly at CSUN (DH)

UC Davis at Long Beach State (DH)