LA JOLLA, Calif. – After a long awaited 349 days, the UC San Diego softball team will open its 2021 season on Sunday, Feb. 21 as they host nonconference opponent Grand Canyon University at Triton Softball Field. The weekend's competition will also mark the beginning of the Tritons' Division I era. The first game of the double header is slated for 12 p.m. with the second game following at 2 p.m.
THE SCHEDULE
Game 1
vs.
Grand Canyon University (2-4, 0-0 WAC)
Sunday, Feb. 21 • 12 p.m.
Triton Softball Field • La Jolla, Calif.
Watch on ESPN3 •
Live Stats
Game 2
vs.
Grand Canyon University (2-4, 0-0 WAC)
Sunday, Feb. 21 • 2 p.m.
Triton Softball Field • La Jolla, Calif.
Watch on ESPN3 •
Live Stats
Series Record: Tied, 11-11 (.500)
Last Meeting: UC San Diego 3, Grand Canyon 8 (5/11/13, Arcata, NCAA West Regional)
UC SAN DIEGO AND COVID-19
UC San Diego's nationally renowned Return to Learn program was created to return to in-person teaching, learning, conducting pioneering research and serving our communities in the safest way possible. The program has three adaptive pillars that are central to our strategy to resume on-campus activity: risk mitigation, viral detection, and intervention.
For the latest information on UC San Diego and COVID-19, please visit the University's
Return to Learn site.
ATTENDING THE GAMES
Per the current COVID-19 guidelines set by the state of California, the County of San Diego and the Big West Conference, fans are not permitted to attend home games at Triton Softball Field.
COVERING THE TRITONS
Media members wishing to cover a UC San Diego game in-person at Triton Softball Field this season must request access from a member of the
Athletics Communications staff no later than 10 a.m. on game day. All media members will need to complete a UC San Diego symptom screening form on the day of game prior to arriving on campus. All media will enter the field through the staircase adjacent to Ridge Walk Social restaurant above the field. There will be no access to the field level at any time.
Following the conclusion of each game, a video highlight melt and video post-game interviews will be made available for all media members to download.
ABOUT UC SAN DIEGO
Roster |
Schedule |
Stats
Overall: 0-0
Big West: 0-0
Home: 0-0
Away: 0-0
Neutral: 0-0
vs. Ranked Opponents: N/A
Streak: N/A
ABOUT GRAND CANYON
Roster |
Schedule |
Stats
Overall: 2-4
WAC: 0-0
Home: 2-4
Away: 0-0
Neutral: 0-0
vs. Ranked Opponents: 0-1
Streak: L2
ON THE MOVE
After 20 seasons playing as an NCAA Division II team, the entire athletics program has begun 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.
SUCCESS IN DIVISION II
The Tritons accumulated a 391-274 (.588) record in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) – widely considered the best Division II conference in the nation. In the last 20 years, as part of the league, UC San Diego was named regular season CCAA Champion twice (2011, 2019) and claimed a pair of CCAA Tournament titles (2012, 2016). The Tritons also earned three National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) West Region Championships (2011, 2012, 2019), were National Championship Runners-Up (2012), and brought home the program's first and one of UC San Diego's 30 National Championship trophies in 2011.
In the abbreviated 2020 season and final year in Division II, the blue and gold posted a 21-8 overall mark and ranked 24th in the final NFCA Top 25 Coaches Poll.
BIG WEST PRESEASON POLL
The Tritons were picked to finish ninth in the Big West Preseason Coaches Poll, as determined by the league's head coaches. UC San Diego collected 26 points in the poll, just one point below UC Santa Barbara (27). To view the full poll, click
here.
WHO'S BACK?
UC San Diego welcomes back a solid group of veterans, including eight of its ten starters. Seniors
Robyn Wampler and
Sherriah Harrington look to build upon their already decorated careers as both were named CCAA All-Stars in 2020 and garnered All-West Region and All-CCAA honors in back-to-back seasons (2018 and 2019). Harrington tabbed All-America Third Team as a freshman.
In 2020, left-handed pitcher Wampler went 11-3 in the circle, with a 1.13 ERA in 18 appearances. In 93.1 innings tossed, the Berkeley native threw nine complete games, limiting opponents to a .195 batting average. Like Wampler, first baseman Harrington was off to a yet another successful campaign in 2020, leading the team in batting average (.400) and slugging percentage (.631), accompanied by seven doubles and 19 RBIs.
Junior outfielder
Keila Bosinger also returns to the UC San Diego lineup. A 2020 NFCA DII Player of the Year Watch List selection, Bosinger proved deserving in the Tritons' season opener at the Desert Stinger where she blasted her first career grand slam and generated a pair of four RBI games. She earned All-Tournament recognition.
In addition, senior
Isabel Lavrov and redshirt junior
Bobbi Aguirre will suit up for the Tritons with multiple years of experience. Both individuals started all 29 games for the Tritons last season, contributing a tied team-high 29 hits and a combined 72 total bases. Lavrov also tallied 13 steals and a team-best 21 RBIs.
Danica Kazakoff returns for a fifth year, looking to capitalize on an extra year of eligibility as she navigates the infield from the shortstop position.
RUNNING THE RECORD BOOKS
Over the span of her career, Wampler has embedded herself into various categories of the UC San Diego record books. In 2020, she notched career strikeout 400 which pushed her to fourth all-time. She is also prevalent in saves (14/1st), wins (60/T4th), complete games (50/5th), appearances (104/5th), and innings (549.0/5th).
Saves
Strikeouts
NEW FACES
UC San Diego added six new players to its roster this fall. Among the newcomers are five freshmen and one transfer. Two left-handed hurlers –
Shelby Thompson (Tucson, Ariz./Ironwood Ridge HS) and
Gabby Williams (Martinez/Carondelet HS) – will add depth to the pitching staff, as
Deena Pederson (Sunnyvale/Wilcox HS) and
Zoe Richards (Livermore/Livermore HS) look to make an immediate impact wherever they may be needed as utility players. The Tritons also picked up a pair of outfielders in
Mariah Melendez (Lakewood/Mayfair HS) and community college transfer
Kaleigh Lane (San Diego/San Diego Mesa College).
UC San Diego graduated a large senior class in 2020 including
Mikaila Reyes (OF),
Alanna Phillips (RHP),
Brittney Ross-Smith (1B),
Alyssa Wing (2B),
Danielle Stedman (OF), and
Dominique Acosta (RHP).
HEAD COACH PATTI GERCKENS
Patti Gerckens enters her 29th season at the helm of the UC San Diego softball program in 2021. Over her 28-year career, Gerckens has compiled an overall record of 779-611 (.560) with 12 30-win seasons in the last 14 years. Throughout her tenure, Gerckens has earned three CCAA Coach of the Year awards (2007, 2011 and 2019) and three NFCA West Region Coaching Staff of the Year honors (2011, 2012, and 2019).
In 2011, Gerckens and her coaching staff were also named NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year upon guiding the blue and gold to a record 45-win season that was capped with the university's final Division II National Championship team title. The winningest coach in program history, Gerckens has witnessed the institution transition from Division III to Division II and now to Division I. For Gerckens' complete bio, click
here.
BYRNE PROMOTED, WASHINGTON ADDED
After returning to UC San Diego for her third stint last season,
Cristina Byrne was promoted to Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator in August of 2020. She has become quite familiar with La Jolla's campus, having previously been with the Tritons from 2003-05 and 2006-07.
A former San Diego State and University of San Diego starting outfielder, Byrne carries a handful of Division I experience. She was involved at San Diego State (2016-18) as a volunteer assistant and also served as an assistant coach at Big West foe UC Davis (2015-16). To read more on Byrne, click
here.
Christina Washington, former Boise State (2017) and Cal State Fullerton (2014-16) pitching standout, rounds out the coaching staff changes in 2021. Similarly to Byrne, Washington came to La Jolla with two years of coaching experience at another Big West opponent, Cal State Fullerton. Washington carried out the responsibilities of volunteer assistant pitching coach where she helped the Titans to their fourth-straight regular season Big West title. For Washington's complete bio, click
here.
Alongside Gerckens, Byrne and Washington is
Ray Noelte who undergoes his third-consecutive season as a volunteer coach.
TRITONS SIGN SIX TO CLASS OF 2025
The UC San Diego softball team inked six accomplished high school scholar-athletes to National Letters of Intent this past November. Alexa DeMarse, Jada Cecil, Marissa "Munchie" Hassis, Marissa Fondtain, Morgan Eng, and Reilly Erickson have committed to join the Tritons in the fall of 2021. For more on the incomings, click
here.
WHAT'S NEXT
Following Sunday's games with Grand Canyon, the Tritons will break for next weekend. Then, Utah State will visit La Jolla on March 6 for a doubleheader at Triton Softball Field. The first pitch of game one is set for 10 a.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN3. For UC San Diego's complete schedule, click
here. More events will be added as they are confirmed.
UC SAN DIEGO ON THE WORLDWIDE LEADER
Most UC San Diego home softball, baseball, men's and women's basketball games and men's and women's volleyball matches are broadcast live on ESPN3. For more information on where to watch UC San Diego softball, visit
UCSDTritons.com/live.
UC SAN DIEGO ATHLETICS LAUNCHES WEEKLY PODCAST
As part of UC San Diego's transition to Division I, the Athletics Department launched a weekly podcast, Tritoncast. Produced by UC San Diego Athletics Communications, Tritoncast features in-depth interviews with UC San Diego personalities including scholar-athletes, alums, coaches, and administrators. Triton fans will get an inside look at the UC San Diego Athletics Department as the program transitions to NCAA Division I and the Big West Conference. New episodes of Tritoncast are available each week on the most popular podcasting apps, including Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify, Stitcher, and TuneIn. In addition, each episode can be heard and downloaded on UCSDTritons.com. For individual show information and listen links, follow Tritoncast on Twitter
@Tritoncast.
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.
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
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 37 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.
