LA JOLLA, Calif. - After dropping the series opener against No. 13 Humboldt State, the UC San Diego softball team fell short of a comeback in game two. The Lumberjacks won the first game 4-1 before completing the day sweep with a 4-3 victory in the nightcap.
The Tritons fall to 22-18 on the season with a 12-14 mark in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) while the Jacks improve to 34-10 overall and 20-6 in the league.
Game One
In the series opener, Humboldt State scored four runs on 10 hits while the Tritons left 13 on base with nine in scoring position as UCSD fell 4-1.
The Jacks got on the board in the second when Alison McKibbon singled through the right side to score Julie Pena. But the Tritons quickly escaped the inning when they caught Breeon Bejaran, who was trying to advance to third on McKibbon's single, in a run down.
In the next inning, Humboldt State put its final three runs on the board. Tiffany Hollingsworth single to right field to score Chavez to score the Jacks only earned run of the frame. Pena then reached on an error to score its final two runs of the game.
The Tritons broke the shutout in the fourth inning. Ashley Chestnut and Emma Schneider led off the inning by each drawing a walk. Rachel Phillips then hit a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners into scoring position. Kendall Baker then drove in Kendall Woken, who was pinch running for Chestnut, on a single up the middle.
Game Two
In the nightcap, the Tritons almost came from behind to defeat the Jacks but unfortunately fell 4-3.
HSU struck first in the second when McKibbon blasted a three-run homer over the left field fence. McKibbion's home run brought in Amanda Rose, who was pinch running for Williams and Bejaran, who reached on a single.
Two innings later, the Jacks added an crucial insurance run. Hollingsworth singles to left center to drive in Chavez for a 4-0 lead.
The Tritons finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth. Phillips led off the frame with a single to right field and Schneider followed with a single to the left side. Head coach Patti Gerckens then subbed in Bianca Devoto to pinch hit. The regining CCAA Player of the Week continued to come up big for the Tritons hitting a two-run single up the middle to clear the bases and cut their deficit to two.
UCSD pulled within one in the next inning. After Kelsi Maday and Lauren Sanders led of the fifth with back-to-back singles, McKenna Clewett laid down a perfect bunt to third base to bring home Maday.
Despite scoring three runs in the fifth and the sixth, the Tritons dropped 4-3 in game two.
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