LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The No. 6 University of California San Diego softball team started off its 2020 campaign with two wins at day one of The Desert Stinger Tournament. The Tritons defeated Northwest Nazarene in their season opener with a score of 8-5. Following that, UC San Diego was victorious in a back and forth contest against University of Mary, 5-3.

The win against the Nighthawks improves UC San Diego's record to 11-3 in season-openers since 2006. 
 
Game 1: UC San Diego 8, Northwest Nazarene 5
It was a come-from-behind win for the Tritons after trailing 4-0. The Nighthawks came out swinging as a pair of home runs and a double put them on the board early on. 
 
The Tritons would cut the deficit to two in the bottom of the third inning. All with two outs, sophomore Clarissa Reynoso walked and advanced to second after junior Isabel Lavrov reached on an infield single. Senior Mikaila Reyes lit a spark for the blue and gold when her single to the right side scored two. 
 
Just one inning later, with runners on the corners, sophomore Keila Bosinger doubled to right center to tie the game at 4-4.
 
Northwest Nazarene threatened in the fifth with a leadoff single and a succeeding double to put runners in scoring position, but junior starting pitcher Robyn Wampler battled on the mound to keep them stagnant. 
 
Using momentum from the previous inning, the Tritons connected on back-to-back doubles from Reyes and sophomore Kinley Kyro to go ahead (5-4) for the first time all game. 
 
The Tritons added some insurance in the bottom of the sixth. Redshirt sophomore Bobbi Aguirre blasted a double to right field and Bosinger cleared the bases with a two RBI home run to left.  
 
Ahead 8-5 entering the seventh, Wampler closed the door with a quick 1-2-3 inning to secure the victory.  

Game 2: UC San Diego 5, University of Mary 3 
In game two, Reyes wasted no time in getting the Tritons' offense going. A solo home run to left center would add to Reyes' successful day at the plate. 
 
In the bottom half of the third, UC San Diego produced another run when Aguirre reached on a fielder's choice. She advanced to second on a wild pitch and then to third on a Bosinger single. Reyes would come up big once again, capitalizing on the pressured situation with a single to left, good for her fourth RBI of the day. 
 
Senior right-handed pitcher Alanna Phillips kept the Marauders both hitless and scoreless through the first three innings. However, University of Mary chipped away and tied the game 2-2 in the fourth inning on four hits. The Marauders would later take the lead in the fifth on another two hits. 
 
But the Tritons fought back, as they had all day. UC San Diego answered to tie the game at three apiece in the fifth but would not stop there. A few walks, Marauder fielding mishaps and situational hitting brought two more across the plate. The score would stay 5-3 for the remainder, with the Tritons in control. 
 
Phillips tossed another scoreless inning in the sixth, while Wampler came in relief during the seventh. The lefty picked up the save after striking out the last two batters of the game.   
 
"I will take the wins," said Head Coach Patti Gerckens. "I expected that we would struggle in certain areas, but we are working through the process every game."

"We made some mistakes, but we did several good things as well. We showed our resiliency as we fought back and came from behind in both games. We had some clutch hits from Mikaila Reyes and Keila Bosinger. Danielle Stedman also played a solid two games." 
 
"I think our defense definitely needs to be more consistent. We just have to continue to work hard in all areas moving forward," Gerckens continued. 
 
Up Next
The Desert Stinger Tournament will continue through this weekend. Tomorrow, UC San Diego is set to play Oklahoma Baptist at 2 p.m. and West Texas A&M at 4:30 p.m.
 
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.

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