LA JOLLA, Calif. - The UC San Diego softball team used a 4-1 win in the opener game and a 5-3 victory in game two to take both of Friday's contests at Triton Softball Field. With the doubleheader sweep, head coach Patti Gerckens earns her 600th career win. Gerckens is now 600-500 (.545) overall at the helm of UCSD's softball program. The Tritons improve to 7-1 overall and start California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play with a 2-0 mark.
Bianca Devoto led UCSD with three RBI in the doubleheader, while Emma Schneider and Lauren Sanders tacked on two apiece and Rachel Phillips and McKenna Clewett each earned one on a hit-by-pitch.
Game One
The Tritons' offense got off to an early start on Friday. Behind three singles from Sanders, Kelsi Maday and Taylor Abeyta in the bottom of the second, UCSD loaded the bases for Phillips. The freshman third baseman recorded her first RBI on a hit-by-pitch. Clewett followed suit by driving in the Tritons' second run in the same fashion.
The Gators got on the board in the fourth as Tori Bellin drove in Jennifer Lewis on single to right field. Clewett threatened to add an insurance run in the bottom frame. With two outs in the inning, Clewett knocked a deep shot into right center for a triple. Unfortunately, the junior was left stranded on base.
UCSD added on its final runs of the opening game in the sixth inning. Abeyta led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Phillips. Emily Sklencar, who was pinch-hitting for Kristin George, used a single to shortstop to advance Abeyta to third. Clewett then drew a walk to load the bases for Devoto, who drove in the two final runs of the game on a single.
Hannah Duarte recorded her third win of the season after giving up just one run on five hits while striking out five batters. Duarte now has 15 strikeouts this season in 24.1 innings of work. Mo Omori, who relieved Duarte in the seventh, recorded her second save of the season.
Game Two
The Tritons recorded a season-high five runs in the final game of Friday's doubleheader. The first run of the game came off the bat of Sanders who used a single to score Devoto in the bottom of the second.
UCSD's bats came alive in the second inning as they scored its final four runs on five hits. Devoto drove in the first run of the frame with a sacrifice fly. In the next at bat, Schneider doubled to center field to score Abeyta and Phillips. Sanders drove in the final run on a double down the left field line to put the Tritons up, 5-0.
The Gators made an attempt at a comeback in the top of the seventh by scoring three runs, but the Tritons held them off to take the 5-3 win.
Alexis Edwards dealt a scoreless four innings, while giving up just one hit on three strikeouts en route to her second win of the season. With three innings of relief, Omori earned her second save of the day and third of the season.
UCSD will return to Triton Softball Field on Saturday to finish up its four-game series against San Francisco State. Saturday's doubleheader will start at 11 a.m.
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