LA JOLLA, Calif. - The UC San Diego softball team split its final doubleheader of the season Sunday against Cal State San Bernardino at Triton Softball Field. The Tritons opened with a 3-1 win against the Coyotes in game one before falling 6-4 in the series finale.
UCSD finishes the season 25-25 overall with a 15-21 mark in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). With the split, CSUSB narrowly missed qualifying for the CCAA Tournament. The Coyotes end their year with a 28-24 overall record and a 20-15 mark in conference play.
Game One
UCSD ended CSUSB's postseason hopes with a 3-1 win in the first game.
Senior Mo Omori, who got her first start in the circle since UCSD faced Cal State Monterey Bay on March 1, shined in her final appearance as a Triton. Omori (4-2) retired the first eight batters she faced in order before Arianna Hernandez broke up the no hitter on a single in the third inning. Hernandez then stole second and scored the first run of the game when Nicole Nobbe doubled to center field.
The Tritons answered back in the bottom of the inning. With two outs, Kendall Baker reached on an infield single to shortstop. Then Emma Schneider recorded her fifth home run of the year to put UCSD on top, 2-1. Schneider finishes the season as the Tritons' home run leader.
The Pioneers threatened to retake the lead in the next two innings, but they were no match for the Tritons' defense. With two outs and a runner on first in the fourth, Alyssa Ramos singled to shortstop and Kaylee Gemmel drew a walk to load the bases. But Omori remained composed and got Melissa Roberts to ground out to second to end the inning.
The Tritons stranded two more runners in the fifth. Left-handed pitcher Alexis Edwards came in as relief with no outs and two runners on base. Schneider recorded the first out, catching the Pioneers' lead runner at third on a double steal. Monica Maddox then singled to second base, but Edwards retired the next two batters.
In the sixth inning, UCSD tacked on an insurance run. After reaching on a single and stealing second base, freshman Kelsi Maday scored on an error to put the Tritons up 3-1.
After working a perfect 1-2-3 frame in the sixth, Edwards returned to the circle to pitch another scoreless inning and secure UCSD's first win of the series.
Game Two
The Tritons looked poised to sweep Sunday's doubleheader in the nightcap, but a detrimental sixth inning kept the win out of reach as they fell 6-4.
With two outs in the bottom of the first and runners on the corners, McKenna Clewett singled to drive in Bianca Devoto for the first run of the game. Emily Sklencar then hit the fourth straight single of the inning to load the bases for Omori, who drew a walk to give UCSD an early 2-0 advantage.
Right-handed pitcher Hannah Duarte held the Coyotes scoreless in the second game until the fourth inning. Thalia Ortiz hit a single to centerfield, but advanced to third on a fielding error by Maday. In the next at bat, Roberts drove in the Pioneers' first run to cut their deficit to 2-1.
Duarte worked another scoreless inning in the fifth, but found trouble in the sixth frame. With two outs and bases loaded, CSUSB tied up the game at 2-2 on a hit by pitch. Ramos then put the Pioneers ahead on a single. They went on to score three more runs on two singles for a 6-2 lead.
The Tritons responded in the bottom of the inning when Ashley Chestnut hit a two-run double to right field. Unfortunately, UCSD couldn't overcome the two-run deficit, dropping their final game in a 6-4 decision.
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