LA JOLLA, Calif. - The UC San Diego softball team took both games of Saturday's doubleheader to complete a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) sweep of San Francisco State. The Tritons used a strong offensive performance to mercy rule the Gators in the opener, 8-0, before closing out the set with a 1-0 win in the finale.
Emma Schneider and Kelsi Maday led the Tritons on offense with a two-run homer and a solo shot, respectively in the first game, while UCSD's pitching staff combined for a shut out in game two.
The Tritons have won nine straight games to improve to 9-1 overall and opens off conference play with a 4-0 start, taking sole possesion of first place in the CCAA.
Game One
With McKenna Clewett on second after leading off the first inning with a single, Schneider crushed her first home run of the season. Two batters later Maday hit a solo shot to put the Tritons up, 3-0.
UCSD piled on five more runs in the third inning. Kendall Woken started the rally with a single to right field. Schneider and Lauren Sanders then loaded the bases on a fielding error and walk, respectively. The Gators turned to their bullpen by replacing Megan Clark with Jenny Obbema, but the Tritons continued their offensive push.
Maday hit a two-run single to the left field to drive in Woken and Schneider. Emily Sklencar then walked to load the bases again for Ashley Chestnut, who produced a two-run double. The final run of the inning came on a sacrifice fly by Rachel Phillips, giving UCSD the eventual 8-0 victory.
Hannah Duarte was nearly perfect in the circle. The junior picked up her second complete game of the season by pitching five scoreless innings, while allowing just three batters to reach on a hit and two walks. Duarte also recorded two strikeouts.
Game Two
The series finale proved to be a pitchers dual between UCSD and San Francisco State. Alexis Edwards got the start for the Tritons, and went four innings with no runs, three hits and a walk.
Mo Omori came in to relieve Edwards in the fifth with a perfect inning. After retiring the first two batters in the sixth frame, two Gators reached on fielding errors. Duarte then came in to replace Omori. San Francisco State nearly tied the game up as Courtney Gravel hit a single up the middle, but thanks to an incredible throw by Maday, the Tritons got the out at home.
Duarte finished up the game with no runs, no hits and one walk.
The lone run in the final game came from Clewett who scored on a wild pitch by Aryn Guzman.
UCSD is back at home on Monday for a non-conference doubleheader against Adelphi University, with the first game set to start at 1 p.m.
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