LA JOLLA, Calif. – Freshman Deena Pederson went 4-for-4 with five RBIs and a walk-off home run, as the Tritons split with the Gauchos in their opening Big West series on Friday, Mar. 26 at Triton Softball Field. With the results, UC San Diego moves to 3-6 (1-1) while the Gauchos shift to 5-16 (2-2).
 
GAME 1: UC San Diego 4, UC Santa Barbara 10
The Tritons wasted no time in putting up a crooked number in the first. Designated player Bobbi Aguirre was hit by the pitch, followed by a rocket over the left center field fence by senior Sherriah Harrington, her first of the season.

The Gauchos had a breakout inning in the third as they retook the lead 3-4. Three hits, including one home run and an error from the Triton defense proved costly.
 
UC San Diego was quiet for the middle innings, compared to a five-spot from the Gauchos in the fifth. Harrington ended the drought for the home team with her third RBI of the night on a line shot up the middle.
   
A solo four bagger from Keila Bosinger and a single from sophomore Sophia Real kept the Tritons alive in the seventh, but it wasn't enough as they were retired in the next three at-bats to end the game.
 
UC San Diego threw three of its four pitchers in game one. Lefty starter Robyn Wampler got through 3.1 innings before sophomore Kaia Simpson entered in relief. Wampler faced 18 batters, struck out four and only walked one. She allowed four runs, three unearned. Freshman Shelby Thompson saw 2.2 innings in the circle as well.

GAME 2: UC San Diego 11, UC Santa Barbara 3 (6 Inn.)
The Gauchos plated one in the very first inning of the game, but the Tritons were quick to answer.
 
Bosinger doubled to straight away center and was bunted to third by Real. Recalling UC San Diego's first Division I win against Grand Canyon (Feb. 21), Aguirre executed once again on a called suicide squeeze. Later on in the same inning, a pair of free passes loaded the bases. Then, freshman Deena Pederson tripled to right center to clear them all.
 
UC Santa Barbara picked up another run in the top of the third to bring the game within two (4-2).
 
The Tritons continued to add to their lead as the game progressed courtesy to a sac-fly from Kyro in the third. Two innings later, freshman pitcher Gabby Williams blasted a no doubter to increase the advantage, 7-3. Three Gaucho errors and four hits led to another pair of runs and the Tritons entered the sixth with a comfortable lead.
 
Williams, receiving her second start on the season, was dominant in the circle. The lefty rookie tossed 6.0 innings of play, surrendering three runs, two earned on just four hits. She also fanned six Gauchos, improving her record to 1-1 on the year.  
 
Continuing her perfect day at the plate, Pederson walked it off in the bottom of the sixth to finalize the game on a run-rule.
 
QUOTABLE
"I am very proud of how our team bounced back and competed in game two. I thought Gabby Williams was superb on the mound. I am looking forward to two more games tomorrow," said Head Coach Patti Gerckens.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• There were a total of six home runs on the day, four for the Tritons and two for the Gauchos.
• Four Tritons had multi-hit games on the day, including Bosinger, Harrington, Real, and Pederson.  
• Pederson nearly hit for the cycle in game two and was just a double away from accomplishing the feat.
• The Tritons were 4-for-6 (.667) with runners on third and less than two outs between both games.
• Eight individuals were hit by pitch, six in game one and two in the nightcap. 

UP NEXT
UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara will battle it out for the conference series on Saturday, Mar. 27 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Games will be held at Triton Softball Field and broadcast on ESPN3.
 
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.
 
Return To Sport… Safely
In order for UC San Diego scholar-athletes to be permitted to return to training and competition safely and within federal, state, local and university guidelines, the athletic department implemented a number of measures designed to complement and enhance the university's highly-successful Return To Learn program.  Notable actions include being physically distanced when practical, including during out-of-season training sessions; wearing masks, except when undergoing physically strenuous exercise; and maintaining proper hygiene.  Athletes, coaches and staff are testing at a higher frequency than the campus population, teams adhere to CDC, NCAA and Big West Conference guidelines and department officials participate in regular meetings with conference and university-affiliated physicians and the UC San Diego emergency operations staff.