LA JOLLA, Calif. – Playing its first game in nearly two weeks, the UC San Diego softball team dropped two nonconference contests to Utah State on Saturday afternoon at Triton Softball Field. With the losses UC San Diego moves to 1-3 (0-0 BWC) overall, as the Aggies improve to 8-9 (0-0 MW).

GAME 1: UC San Diego 1, Utah State 5
Utah State jumped on the board early, putting up two runs in the first inning after the Triton defense committed two costly errors. 
 
Two innings later, UC San Diego found its first run of the day. Continuing her strong presence at the plate from the GCU series, junior Clarissa Reynoso roped a double to right center. Situational play brought pinch runner redshirt sophomore Kelley Renner to third on a sac bunt. Then, sophomore Sophia Real capitalized, drilling one off the pitcher's glove to score Renner to pick up her second RBI of the season.
 
The Aggies tallied another run in the third, while the score remained 1-3 for the fourth and fifth innings. In the sixth, Utah State collected two insurance runs on three hits, forcing Triton starting pitcher Robyn Wampler out of the circle.
 
Wampler threw 5.2 innings on the mound, surrendering five runs, three which were earned and struck out four. Sophomore Kaia Simpson entered in relief. Of the five batters she faced, only one reached base safely. Ultimately, six hits wasn't enough from the Triton offense and Utah State came up with the victory. 

GAME 2: UC San Diego 2, Utah State 5 (8 Inn.)
Once again, the Aggies scored first in game two. Freshman Gabby Williams, getting her second start in a Triton uniform, dealt three innings of no-hit ball in addition to two strikeouts.
 
The fourth gave the Tritons some trouble as Utah State drove across two runs after a free pass was followed up by consecutive hits. 
 
The Tritons busted it open in the sixth inning with back-to-back RBI doubles from seniors Isabel Lavrov and Danica Kazakoff to even the score, 2-2.
Simpson took over the bump in the fifth for her second appearance of the day and was lights out until the eighth. The Seattle, Wash. native didn't give up a single hit until the extra inning. A three-run home run in the top half proved to be enough for the visiting team as the Tritons couldn't respond. 

QUOTABLE
"We have to win more innings and have more timely hits is what it comes down to," said Head Coach Patti Gerckens. "I thought our pitchers did well today, but we didn't make adjustments soon enough at the plate. We are continuing the process and will get better."

Watch the postgame interview with Danica Kazakoff:



TRITON TIDBITS

• Saturday's doubleheader was the first softball matchup between UC San Diego and Utah State.
• Reynoso and Kazakoff were both 3-for-6 (.500) on the day, team-bests. 
• UC San Diego turned a pair of double plays in game two. 
• The Tritons left a combined 18 on base between both contests. 
• UC San Diego wore green ribbons on Saturday in support of Taylor Dockins, a player on Cal State Fullerton's softball team, who is courageously fighting liver cancer.

 
UP NEXT
With a quick turnaround, the Tritons will be back in action next Tuesday, Mar. 9 when they head to Los Angeles to take on No. 4 UCLA. The game is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Easton Stadium.  

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.