ST. GEORGE, Utah ? Krystal Plunkett hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the sixth inning to lead second-seeded Hawaii Pacific to a 4-3 victory over No. 7 seed UC San Diego in the NCAA Division II West Regional Saturday afternoon on the campus of Dixie State. Senior center fielder
Allison May went 2-for-3 with a run driven in, while
Camille Gaito pitched her third complete game of the weekend for UCSD.
The Sea Warriors (42-11) advance to face host Dixie State in the sub-regional championship game Sunday at 11:00 a.m. HPU dropped a 5-0 decision to the third-seeded Red Storm in a winner's bracket matchup earlier in the day.
The Tritons' season comes to a close at 30-25 overall. After registering the program's second NCAA Tournament win at the Division II level with a 2-1 triumph over Cal State Monterey Bay, UCSD was on the short end of a one-run decision with HPU for the second time in as many days in the night cap.
"I thought we played extremely well and we battled the whole game," head coach
Patti Gerckens said. "They got a hold of two pitches and that was the difference. I'm proud of our team and the way they kept fighting all season long."
The Sea Warriors jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on Maile Kim's two-run homer to left field in the top of the first inning, but the Tritons came right back with two in the bottom half.
Nicole Saari drove in
Amanda Eliades on a single to right center and
Sarah Woofter brought another run home with a two-out single up the middle.
After Eliades and
Jenni Habib drew back-to-back walks to lead off the third inning, May gave UCSD a 3-2 advantage with a two out single to shallow right field. Eliades came in for her second run of the game on the play.
The Tritons held the one run lead until the sixth inning. Casey Sugihara reached on an error and Plunkett followed with a towering shot to left field, giving the Otters the lead for good.
Sea Warrior starter Sherise Musquiz (21-4) then retired the final six UCSD batters in order to lock down the victory. She allowed three runs on five hits, while walking six and striking out three in seven complete innings.
Starting a second consecutive game, Gaito (12-5) turned in another gritty performance but took the loss for the Tritons. She allowed four runs on six hits, while fanning two and walking one in her third outing of the tournament.
