LA JOLLA, Calif. – The No. 6 University of California San Diego softball team is set to open its 2020 season this weekend at the Desert Stinger Softball Tournament in Las Vegas, Nev. The three-day tournament will take place from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2. All games will be played at Majestic Park.

It will be the Tritons' third consecutive year competing in the event. Hosted by Montana State Billings, the tournament features 21 NCAA Division II softball programs.

UC San Diego is set to matchup against three familiar opponents – Northwest Nazarene, University of Mary and Montana State Billings, as well as two new contestants in Oklahoma Baptist and West Texas A&M. 

11TH-ANNUAL DESERT STINGER SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT

THE SCHEDULE 
Game 1 
vs. Northwest Nazarene (0-0, 0-0 GNAC) 
Friday, Jan. 31 • 11:30 AM 
Majestic Park (Field 7) • Las Vegas, NV 
Live Stats • History

Game 2 
vs. University of Mary (0-0, 0-0 NSIC) 
Friday, Jan. 31 • 2 PM
Majestic Park (Field 12) • Las Vegas, NV 
Live Stats • History

Game 3 
vs. Oklahoma Baptist (0-0, 0-0 GAC) 
Saturday, Feb. 1 • 2 PM 
Majestic Park (Field 12) • Las Vegas, NV 
Live Stats

Game 4 
vs. West Texas A&M (0-0, 0-0 LSC) 
Saturday, Feb. 1 • 4:30 PM 
Majestic Park (Field 12) • Las Vegas, NV 
Live Stats

Game 5 
vs. Montana State Billings (0-0, 0-0 GNAC) 
Sunday, Feb. 2 • 2 PM 
Majestic Park (Field 12) • Las Vegas, NV 
Live Stats • History

SERIES HISTORY
Northwest Nazarene 
UC San Diego is 8-0 all-time against the Nighthawks, with the two teams last meeting in Turlock at the 2019 Tournament of Champions. The blue and gold won in a 3-0 shutout. 

University of Mary
The Tritons are 1-0 all-time against the Marauders, having matched up for the first time at The Desert Stinger just one year ago. UC San Diego dominated in five innings for a 10-2 mercy-rule victory. 

Montana State Billings
The Tritons are 6-1 all-time against the Yellowjackets. The teams squared off at the Tournament of Champions in 2017 where UC San Diego earned a 4-3 triumph.

It will be the first time in program history that the Tritons compete against Oklahoma Baptist and West Texas A&M.  

TRITON HISTORY AT THE STINGER 
UC San Diego achieved a 5-0 record in its debut Desert Stinger Tournament in 2018. That same year, the team set a tournament record in stolen bases (20). Senior first baseman Brittney Ross-Smith, Harrington and Wampler were selected to the All-Tournament Team for their outstanding efforts. 

In 2019, the Tritons started their season off 2-1 at the Desert Stinger after rain canceled a full day's worth of games in Las Vegas, Nev. Ross-Smith received All-Tournament Team honors once again.

2019 IN A GLANCE
UC San Diego is coming off a 37-17 overall mark last season. The Tritons clinched the regular-season CCAA title on behalf of a 24-9 record in conference play and had quite the postseason run as the program advanced to the NCAA Championship for the third time in history. The Tritons' winning percentage of .685 in 2019 was the highest since the team's first 45-win year and national title in 2011 (.776). 

2020 PRESEASON POLLS
The Tritons were picked to finish first in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) based on a preseason poll of the league's head coaches. UC San Diego earned 99 points in the poll and nine of 11 first-place votes. To view the full poll, click here. 

At the national level, the Tritons were ranked sixth in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Top 25 Preseason Poll. UC San Diego acquired 310 points. Reigning national champion Augustana was selected at number one. Last season UC San Diego was listed at No. 23 in preseason and continued to rise throughout the year, securing No. 7 in the final poll. To view the full poll, click here.

RETURNER HIGHLIGHTS
UC San Diego welcomes back three Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-West Region selections in juniors Robyn Wampler and Sherriah Harrington, as well as sophomore Keila Bosinger. Wampler also tabbed NFCA All-West Region Second Team. In addition, the three standouts were named to the CCAA's First Team. 

Wampler and Harrington are each second-consecutive season recipients for both the D2CCA and CCAA accolades. 

In 2019, Wampler compiled a 24-9 record with an ERA of 2.06 and a .220 opposing batting average, suited for third in the CCAA. In 42 appearances, the lefty pitched 235.0 innings and struck out 175 batters. In 2018, Wampler recorded 214 strikeouts, putting her first all-time for a single season. Voted the team's Pitcher of the Year, the Berkeley native looks for continued success in her junior campaign. 

Harrington played in all 54 games and led the Tritons in hits (53), on top of generating a .340 batting average with five home runs, nine doubles and 28 RBIs. Bosinger's .403 batting average in CCAA play ranked third in conference. The then-rookie generated a team-high in five categories including batting average (.381), RBIs (31), home runs (6), slugging percentage (.612) and on-base percentage (.455), landing her UC San Diego's Offensive Player of the Year.

Redshirt sophomore Bobbi Aguirre, a 2018 All-CCAA Second Team honoree, also returns having missed last year due to injury. During her freshman year, Aguirre's bat played a big part in the team's offensive success. Her 50 RBIs tied the Tritons' all-time single season record, while her eight home runs rank sixth. Read more on Aguirre's recovery and what to expect from the Chino Hills native in 2020, here. 

NEW TALENT
This fall the Tritons welcomed tons of new talent with the addition of two transfers and five freshmen. The transfer scholar-athletes include junior designated player/utility Trudie Nixon (Coronado) and sophomore utility Vanessa Tirado (Stockton). Nixon competed at Southwestern College from 2017-19, while Tirado played for the San Diego City College Knights in 2018-19.

UC San Diego also added utility player Graci Dragoo (West Covina/Bishop Amat Memorial), outfielder Mikaila Pancino (Huntington Beach/Edison HS), third baseman/shortstop Sophia Real (Poway/Poway HS), catcher Justice Salcido (Temecula/Great Oak HS) and right-handed pitcher Kaia Simpson (Seattle, Wash./Garfield HS) to its rookie class. 

The Tritons lost two seniors, Maddy Lewis and Kristyana Boghossian, to graduation following the 2019 season. 

HEAD COACH PATTI GERCKENS 
Patti Gerckens enters her 28th season at the helm of the UC San Diego softball program in 2020. Over her 27-year career, Gerckens has collected an overall record of 758-603 (.557) with 12 30-win seasons in the last 13 years. The winningest coach in program history, Gerckens led the Tritons to the program's third and most recent National Championship appearance in 2019. The Tritons finished as national runners-up in her milestone 20th campaign in 2012 and 2011 brought UC San Diego softball its first national title. 

Gerckens was CCAA Coach of the Year in 2007, 2011 and 2019 and has garnered the NFCA's West Region Coaching Staff of the Year honor three times while in the head coaching position. For Gerckens' complete bio, click here.

BYRNE'S BACK, WATSON ADDED
Cristina Byrne returns to the UC San Diego coaching staff for her third stint having previously been with the Tritons from 2003-05 and 2006-07. Byrne was named assistant coach in September 2019. Before coming back to La Jolla, Byrne served as a volunteer assistant at San Diego State (2016-18). Throughout her playing career, Byrne split time at San Diego State and University of San Diego as a starting outfielder. For Byrne's complete bio, click here. 

A former University of Arizona standout, Eva Watson joins the Tritons as a volunteer assistant coach. The Wildcat outfielder recorded a .320 batting average over her four years, helping Arizona to a Super Regional appearance every year. Watson previously carried out a volunteer assistant position at University of San Diego during the 2018-19 season. For Watson's complete bio, click here. 

By their sides, Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Jessica Millsap embarks on season 11 and Ray Noelte enters his second-consecutive year as a volunteer assistant. 

WHAT'S NEXT
Following the Desert Stinger Tournament, the Tritons will return home to host Hawaii Pacific on Tuesday, Feb. 4. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 12 p.m. Later that weekend, Sonoma State travels south to Triton Softball Field to jumpstart CCAA action on Feb. 7-8. For UC San Diego's complete schedule, click here. 

FOLLOW THE TRITONS
Keep up with the Tritons all season long on social media through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The team's handle is @UCSDsoftball.

BIG WEST BOUND
UC San Diego is in its 20th and final year playing as an NCAA Division II team. In July of 2020, the entire athletics program will begin a four-year transition to NCAA Division I, culminating in full DI status as a member of the Big West Conference for the 2024-25 academic year. At that time, all sports will be eligible for conference and NCAA postseason play.

GEAR 
For the latest Triton apparel and accessories, visit the official team store of the Tritons here.

FOR THE YOUNGER CROWD
Got some young Triton fans in your family? If they are eighth grade or under, check out the Junior Triton Club. Membership includes a free t-shirt, admission to over 100 UC San Diego home athletic events, and much more!

About UC San Diego Athletics
With 30 national team championships, nearly 150 individual titles and the top student-athlete graduation rate among Division II institutions in the United States, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program annually ranks as one of the most successful in the country.  The Tritons sponsor 23 intercollegiate sport programs that compete on the NCAA Division I and II levels and, in summer 2020, will transition into full Division I status as a member of the Big West Conference.  UC San Diego student-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent.  A total of 82 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 37 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships.  In competition, more than 1,300 UC San Diego student-athletes have earned All-America honors.

Follow The Tritons
For complete coverage and information regarding UC San Diego Athletics, follow the Tritons online at UCSDtritons.com and through social media on Twitter (@ucsdtritons), Instagram (@ucsdtritons) and Facebook (ucsdtritons).