CARSON, Calif. - The UC San Diego softball team lost both games of Monday's doubleheader against Cal State Dominguez Hills at Toro Diamond. After falling 5-2 in game one, the Tritons lost 7-6 in game two.
With the loss, the Tritons move to 16-12 on the season and 9-11 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), while the Toros improve to 14-13 overall with a 12-8 league mark.
Game One
Junior McKenna Clewett led off game one in a big way. The shortstop, who has started 24 games as the Tritons leadoff batter, put UCSD up 1-0 with a solo shot over the left field fence. Clewett's third home run of the season puts her in a three-way tie for first on the team with Kelsi Maday and Emma Schneider.
Schneider kept the inning going with a double to right field. Then with two outs, centerfielder Taylor Abeyta recorded her seventh RBI of the season as she drove in Schneider on a single up the middle. Unfortunately for the Tritons, their offense would stop there as they finished with three hits and two runs.
With UCSD up 2-0 after the top of the first, CSUDH answered back in the bottom of the frame. With Madison Murphy on second, Stephanie Hua gave the Toros their first run on a single. Kaci McGinnis later tied the game up at 2-2 with a single up the middle.
Junior left-handed pitcher Alexis Edwards maintained her composure as she struck out the second batter of the inning to leave two runners on base. Edwards then worked a flawless second inning, retiring CSUDH in order.
The Toros took the lead in the third inning once again thanks to a single from McGinnis. CSUDH then tacked on two more in the sixth on a home run from Jazmyne Cortinas and a double steal, allowing Jasmine Ruiz to score.
Game Two
The Tritons scored early in the series finale with a two-out rally in the second inning. After shortstop Carly Mitchell robbed Emily Sklencar of a hit with a diving grab, the shortstop fired to first to turn a double play.
UCSD stayed strong as Mo Omori started off the rally with a walk. With bases loaded on back-to-back singles from Abeyta and Kristin George, head coach Patti Gerckens turned to sophomore Bianca Devoto to pinch hit. The infielder punched a single into right center and cleared the bases, giving the Tritons a 3-0 lead over the Toros.
The momentum from Devoto's three-run, two-out single carried into the bottom of the frame. Right-handed pitcher Hannah Duarte tossed a perfect second inning, retiring CSUDH in order.
The Toros threatened in the third inning, but their offense couldn't break through the Tritons' defense. With one out and runners on second and third, Analisa Nicholson hit a ground ball to second baseman Kendall Baker. Baker immediately fired home to Sanders to catch the lead runner. The Tritons ended the threat as Omori handled a routine ground ball for the final out.
Duarte worked another perfect inning in the fourth. But UCSD saw its lead slip away in the fifth as CSUDH scored four runs on three hits to take a 4-3 lead. However, the Toros didn't maintain the lead for long as the Tritons added on three runs in the sixth inning.
Sklencar started off the inning with a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Omori. Abeyta tied up the game at four apiece with a double to left field. UCSD then regained the lead when Baker singled up the middle. Schneider then hit the Tritons' third straight single to drive in George for the last run of the inning.
The Toros tacked on another run in the sixth to cut their deficit to one and tied the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single from Murphy. With two outs and bases loaded, Omori came in to relieve Edwards. She gave the Tritons another chance to pull ahead, getting Hua to fly out to Abeyta.
Unfortunately, CSUDH scored on an RBI fielder's choice from Cortinas in extra innings to win 7-6.
The Tritons will head up to Turlock this weekend to compete in the Tournament of Champions. UCSD is set to face Hawaii Pacific, Chaminade and Dominican on Friday before playing Western Washington and Notre Dame de Namur on Saturday.
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