CHICO, Calif. ? The UC San Diego softball team locked up a spot in the inaugural CCAA Championship Tournament with a doubleheader sweep of host Chico State on Friday afternoon. The Tritons improved to 31-23 overall and 22-12 in league play with victories by scores of 5-0 and 4-3. The Wildcats fall to 14-33 overall and 7-23 in conference action.
UCSD got a stellar pitching performance from junior Melissa Ward in game one. She improved to 24-10 on the season after allowing only one hit while striking out four during the complete game shutout. The complete game was her 29 of the season while the shutout was her seventh.
Freshman Amanda Eliades was the offensive star in the first game, going 3-for-4 with a run scored while Danielle Lukk went 1-for-2 with a run scored and one RBI.
In game two, UCSD rallied from a 3-1 deficit with three runs in the top of the seventh inning for the 4-3 victory. Junior Nicole Fullerton went the distance, allowing the three runs on seven hits with two walks and no strikeouts. She improved to 3-2 on the season with the win.
After a Sara Robinson walk led off the inning, Megan Grace doubled home Randelle Bundy who re-entered the game to run for Robinson. Brittni Carino then laid down a bunt single, scoring Grace who scored on an error by Chico State catcher Kathy Domanycic. Carino would steal second base and eventually advance to third on a single by Eliades. Junior Jenny Maze singled home Carino for what proved to be the game-winning run on the very next play.
The Wildcats would go in order in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Tritons preserved the sweep to secure the CCAA Tournament berth. The league championship tournament is scheduled to take place on May 3-5 in Arcata, Calif. Humboldt State will serve as the host.
UC San Diego and Chico State will return to the field on Saturday, playing another doubleheader on the CSUC campus. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.
