LA JOLLA, Calif. - The UC San Diego softball team suffered a doubleheader sweep against California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) opponent Cal State San Bernardino at Triton Softball Field Saturday. The Coyotes took the series opener with a score of 4-1 before winning game two in a 6-1 decision.
UCSD moves to 24-24 overall with a 14-20 conference mark, while CSUSB keeps its postseason hopes alive by moving to 27-23 on the season and 19-14 in league play.
Game One
Three errors committed by the Tritons proved to be costly as they fell to the Coyotes, 4-1, in game one.
UCSD got on the board first in the bottom of the second. Freshman Kelsi Maday led off the frame with a double to left field, and Lauren Sanders followed up by drawing a walk off of CSUSB's ace, Cassandra Williams.
In the next at bat, centerfielder Taylor Abeyta attempted to move both runners into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. But with Abeyta's speed, she beat out the throw and loaded the bases with no outs. Kristin George drove in the first run of the game by drawing the second walk of the frame. Unfortunately, UCSD stranded three runners on base in the second and Maday's run would be the only one of the game.
The Coyotes took over the lead in the next inning. With two outs and Melissa Roberts on second due to a fielding error by second base, left-handed pitcher Alexis Edwards gave up back-to-back walks to load the bases. Victoria Lievanos then broke up the no-hitter with a RBI single to tie the game at one apiece. Nicole Nobbe, who got in a run down on the play, eventually scored on an error by the third baseman.
Edwards bounced back by pitching a scoreless fourth inning and worked a perfect 1-2-3 frame in the following inning. In the fifth, the junior retired the side in order on just five pitches.
CSUSB added an insurance run in the sixth. The Coyotes, who had runners on the corners, took a 3-1 lead when Kaylee Gemmell reached on a fielding error by the shortstop.
The Otters scored their final run of the game when Lievanos doubled to left center to bring home Nobbe in the seventh. Lievanos' RBI double was the first earned run of the game for CSUSB. In addition to giving up just one earned run, Edwards held Nobbe, who leads the conference in five hitting categories, to a 0-for-2 day at the plate with two walks.
Game Two
An explosive sixth inning from the Coyotes put the game out of reach for the Tritons as CSUSB completed the sweep with a 6-1 victory in the nightcap.
After recording two RBI in game one, Lievanos added her third of the day with a single up the middle in the third inning to give CSUSB a 1-0 advantage. Lievanos was crucial in the Coyotes' sweep going 6-for-8 on the day with three RBI. Still, right-handed pitcher Hannah Duarte kept UCSD in the game by working a scoreless fourth.
In the bottom of the inning, freshman Kendall Woken broke up Jamie Nelson's perfect game with a leadoff walk. Unfortunately, the Tritons couldn't produce anything from it as Nelson retired the next three batters in order. But UCSD broke through in the fifth.
Duarte worked a perfect 1-2-3 frame in the top of the inning. Then shortstop McKenna Clewett broke up Nelson's no-hitter with a hard hit double that was inches short of clearing the fence. Clewett then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from Mo Omori and scored when Emily Sklencar grounded out to shortstop.
With the game tied at 1-1, the Coyotes broke the game open scoring five runs on three hits in the sixth. After scoring two runs on a single and a walk, Arianna Hernandez had the hit of the game. The left fielder singled to score two runs and Roberts plated the final run of the game when UCSD threw to second in attempts to catch Hernandez.
In the sixth inning, Emma Schneider, who shined behind the plate catching two runners stealing, attempted to get a two-out rally going with an infield hit to shortstop. But once again UCSD couldn't bring her home and lost 6-1.
UCSD will conclude its season Sunday with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Prior to the start of Sunday's doubleheader, UCSD will recognize two outstanding seniors, Lauren Irish and Omori, as they make their final appearance at Triton Softball Field.
#TritonsRising
