LA JOLLA, Calif. – The University of California San Diego softball team opened its California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) season Friday at home with two wins against Cal State San Marcos. UC San Diego collected a 5-1 win in game one and took game two, 8-3.
UCSD now holds a perfect 6-0 overall record. Dating back to 2006, the Tritons had not opened a season with more then five-straight wins. With the losses, CSUSM falls to 0-5 on the season and 0-2 in the CCAA.
Kelsi Maday led the Tritons with 3 RBI, four hits including a triple, and two runs. The junior also stole three bases and starts the 2017 campaign with a .600 batting average. Sophomore Caitlyn Weisner collected two RBI and three hits on the day, she currently holds a team-high .833 (10-for-12) batting average. Ashley Chestnut ended the day with two RBI and a homerun.
The Cougars' Lindsay Cerulle, Mackenzie Fannin and Karla Bernal each tallied an RBI.
GAME ONE
UCSD jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first with a two-run homerun from Chestnut that scored Maday.
The Cougars made it a 2-1 ballgame in the top of the fourth inning after Cerulle hit a one-run single down the left field line that brought home Holly Fauria.
The Tritons answered in the fifth inning, scoring their final three runs ultimately seal the victory. Chestnut singled to load the bases before Maddy Lewis walked to score a runner. Weisner followed with a sacrifice fly that allowed Maday to reach home plate. Freshman Alanna Phillips stole home to cap the Triton scoring at five.
Sophomore Lauren Brown pitched all 7.0 innings for the Tritons. She collected her second win of the season and tallied five strikeouts. She only allowed three hits and one run.
Cheyenne Alvarez and Ashley Dagenais split time on the mound for CSUSM. Alvarez pitched 5.0 innings and gave up five runs. She was credited with the loss. Dagenais pitched 1.0 inning in relief for Alvarez, allowing no hits or runs.
GAME TWO
The Tritons got things going in the bottom of the first inning, scoring two runs to take the lead. Maday stole second base, followed by third base before Chestnut, Lewis and Weisner walked to bring Maday across home plate. A single from freshman Mikaila Reyes scored the final run of the inning.
CSUSM answered in the top of the second, scoring two runs of its own to knot the game, 2-2. However, UCSD gained a 3-2 advantage in third inning after a pitch hit Reyes with the bases loaded and brought Chestnut home.
The game tied at three after CSUSM scored unearned off a fielding error by the Triton leftfielder.
In the bottom of the fifth, Weisner doubled then stole third before Reyes hit a sacrifice fly to score Weisner and give UCSD a one-run lead.
UCSD extended its lead and ultimately secured the victory with three runs in the sixth inning. Maday hit a triple and advanced home on throwing error by the Cougar second baseman to cap the Triton scoring.
Freshman Lizzy Beutter and senior Milana Casillas split time in the circle for UCSD. Beutter pitched 3.1 innings allowing one earned run. She totaled three strikeouts. Casillas came in relief for Beutter and saw 3.2 innings of work. She gave up no hits or runs and earned her second win of the season.
Dagenais, Karen Roman and Amanda Horbasch pitched for the Cougars. Roman was credited with the loss after giving up five runs in 2.2 innings of work.
UCSD returns to the field Saturday for the final two tilts of the four-game series against Cal State San Marcos. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
#AllForOne
