ST. GEORGE, Utah ? The seventh-seeded UC San Diego softball team had its opportunities, but ultimately lost a 2-1 decision to No. 2 seed Hawaii Pacific in an NCAA Division II West Regional matchup at Dixie State's Kari Brooks Field on Friday. Freshman
Camille Gaito pitched well in defeat, allowing just two runs on five hits to give the Tritons a chance.
Hawaii Pacific improves to 41-10 overall and will face the winner of No. 3 Dixie State and No. 6 Cal State Monterey Bay in the winner's bracket Saturday at 10:00 a.m. PST. The Tritons fall to 29-24 and will take on the loser at 12:30.
After allowing a run in the first and third, Gaito settled in, holding the Sea Warriors without a hit in the final four innings. Her effort wasn't enough, however, as HPU's Courtney Kessell and Sherise Musquiz combined to allow just a single run on seven hits.
"We definitely had our chances," head coach
Patti Gerckens said. "I thought Camille gave us a great effort and we battled back in the last couple of innings, but we needed one more big hit and we didn't get it."
The Sea Warriors jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when shortstop Krystal Plunkett singled to left field. Ciera Senas then drove in a run in the last of third on a base hit that landed just inside the right field line.
UCSD responded with its only run in the fifth. With runners on first and second and two outs,
Jenni Habib ripped a single to center field, scoring
Kristyn Lesovsky to cut the deficit in half.
Nicole Saari then walked to load the bases, but Musquiz got
Allison May to line out to right field to end the inning.
The Tritons put runners at the corners with one out after singles from
Amanda Eliades and
Lauren Chastain in the top of the sixth, but Musquiz pitched her way out of trouble again, striking out the next two batters to end the threat.
After Gaito worked a 1-2-3 bottom half,
Sarah Woofter led off the Triton seventh inning, but her rocket down the right field line was snared by the Sea Warrior first baseman. Musquiz then got Habib and Saari to ground out to seal the victory.
Kessell (20-6) earned the win for Hawaii Pacific, allowing one run on four hits. Musquiz allowed three hits in 2.2 innings of scoreless relief.
Gaito (11-4) took the loss, striking out six and walking one.
May finished with two hits for the Tritons, who outhit the Sea Warriors 7-5.
