TURLOCK, Calif. - The UC San Diego softball team won its second series of the season against a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) opponent by sweeping Cal State Stanislaus in Saturday's doubleheader. The Tritons beat the Warriors, 6-5, in game one and took a 2-1 victory in the series finale at Warrior Softball Field.
UCSD took three of the four games against Cal State Stanislaus this weekend. The Tritons dropped the series opener, 6-1, but bounced back in Friday's second game with a 5-0 shutout. They are now 14-2 overall, with a 7-1 conference mark.
Game One
The Tritons took an early lead in the opener as junior shortstop McKenna Clewett doubled down the left field line, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by outfielder Kristin George and scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman Lauren Sanders.
After a quiet second and third inning from both dugouts, UCSD's offense came to life in the fourth inning. With bases loaded, freshman Kendall Woken hit a grand slam for her first career home run. Woken's homer gave the Tritons a 5-0 lead, but the Warriors answered back.
Cal State Stanislaus scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth to notch the game at five apiece. With bases loaded and no outs, Hannah Duarte came in to relieve starter Mo Omori. After walking the first batter she faced, Duarte retired three of the next four batters.
The Tritons lead off the sixth inning with a single from freshman Rachel Phillips. Woken then used a sacrifice bunt move Phillips over. Clewett reached after getting hit by a pitch and George loaded up the bases by drawing a walk. The Tritons then pulled ahead as junior Taylor Abeyta walked in the winning run.
Omori worked three innings giving up three earned runs on five hits and Duarte earned the win after tossing four innings and allowing just one unearned run on two hits.
Game Two
Duarte picked up her second win of the day in the series finale en route to a 2-1 win for UCSD. Lefty Alexis Edwards got the start in the circle for the Tritons. The junior tossed five scoreless innings, giving up eight hits and recording three strikeouts.
The Tritons struck first again in game two. After Kendall Baker, who was pinch-running for Phillips, stole third base, Clewett drove her in on a sacrifice fly to put UCSD up 1-0.
The Warriors stayed quiet until the sixth inning. Omori came in to relieve Edwards and after retiring the first batter, the senior gave up back-to-back singles. Head coach Patti Gerckens then turned to Duarte. The Long Beach native escaped the inning giving up just one unearned run.
Clewett came up big for UCSD once again in the seventh. Phillips got things started with a double to right center, and with two outs, Clewett doubled down the left field line to give the Tritons a 2-1 victory.
UCSD is on the road again next weekend. They will face third-ranked Cal State Monterey Bay in doubleheaders in Seaside on Friday at noon and Saturday at 11 a.m.
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