LA JOLLA, Calif. – UC San Diego softball will hit the road one last time to conclude its inaugural Division I season in San Luis Obispo, as the Tritons go up against Big West contender Cal Poly on May 14-15. The three-game conference series consists of a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Friday and a single game at 11 a.m. on Saturday. All events will be streamed on BigWest.TV.
THE SCHEDULE (GAMES 33-35)
Game 1
at
Cal Poly (12-20, 6-15 BWC)
Friday, May 14 • 1 p.m.
Bob Janssen Field • San Luis Obispo
Stream Live on BigWest.TV •
Live Stats
Game 2
at
Cal Poly (12-20, 6-15 BWC)
Friday, May 14 • 30 mins. following game 1
Bob Janssen Field • San Luis Obispo
Stream Live on BigWest.TV •
Live Stats
Game 3
at
Cal Poly (12-20, 6-15 BWC)
Saturday, May 15 • 11 a.m.
Bob Janssen Field • San Luis Obispo
Stream Live on BigWest.TV •
Live Stats
Series Record: Cal Poly leads, 0-18
Last Meeting: Cal Poly won (DH), 4/13/94 (game scores: 1-14, 0-9)
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
Cal Poly is permitting fans at Bob Janssen Field in San Luis Obispo. The gates to the facility will open one hour prior to the first pitch and attendance will be capped at 200 on a first come, first serve bases.
ABOUT UC SAN DIEGO
Roster |
Schedule |
Stats
Overall: 14-18
Big West: 10-11
Home: 11-9
Away: 3-9
Neutral: 0-0
vs. Ranked Opponents: 0-1
Streak: W5
ABOUT CAL POLY
Roster |
Schedule |
Stats
Overall: 12-20
Big West: 6-15
Home: 7-10
Away: 4-9
Neutral: 1-1
vs. Ranked Opponents: N/A
Streak: W2
LAST TIME OUT
Last weekend, UC San Diego completed its first-ever Big West series sweep over CSUN at Triton Softball Field. As a team, the Triton offense batted a season-best .388, outscoring the Matadors 27-7 over the course of the three games. Additionally, the pitching staff generated a combined season-low 1.17 ERA, allowing just three earned runs.
Four Tritons batted .500 or better including
Bobbi Aguirre (6-for-8, .750),
Sherriah Harrington (4-for-7, .571),
Isabel Lavrov (4-for-5, .800), and
Sophia Real (3-for-6, .500).
Aguirre's performance was especially impressive, tallying a pair of three-hit games
– one in the opener and another in the finale
–bringing her multi-hit contest count to 10 on the year. The Chula Vista native launched her third home run of the season, the 12th of her career, to remain ninth in Triton history.
Gabbby Williams continues to deliver on the mound and at the plate. The freshman connected on her fifth and sixth home runs of the season, both which came in pinch-hit opportunities. Four of her six deep flies have been in situations off the bench. The lefty also threw 5.0 innings of two-hit ball, allowing two runs, zero earned, to clinch the sweep.
SCOUTING REPORT
Cal Poly and UC San Diego are tied at 32 games played. The Mustangs opened their season with a 2-3 loss to Loyola Marymount, before their next seven games were canceled.
Collectively, Cal Poly is batting .293, third-best in the Big West overall, but have committed 54 errors for a fielding percentage of .940 – last in the league. Patient at the plate, the Mustangs have recorded 55 walks in 587 at-bats throughout conference contests. They trail UC San Diego by four home runs at 18.
Against teams the Tritons have already faced, Cal Poly went 2-1 with CSUN, 1-2 with UCR, 1-4 with Hawaii, 1-4 with Long Beach State, and 2-1 with UC Davis. The Mustangs were swept by Cal State Fullerton and UC Santa Barbara.
DOUBLE THE ACCOLADES FOR BOBBI AGUIRRE
Redshirt junior
Bobbi Aguirre had a monstrous weekend at the plate in UC San Diego's 3-0 sweep over CSUN to earn Big West Field Player of the Week honors and UCSDTritons.com Athlete of the Week recognition. The first baseman batted .750 (6-for-8), slugged for 1.125 and manufactured an on-base percentage of .778. She fielded her position cleanly, errorless in the field all three games. For more, click
here.
WAMPLER TO PLAY FOR ISRAELI NATIONAL TEAM THIS SUMMER
In July,
Robyn Wampler will represent UC San Diego as a member of the Israeli Women's National Team at the 2021 European Championship located in Italy. The Israel Softball Association (ISA) announced its coaches and roster for this summer on Thursday, May 6. For more, click
here.
PATTI GERCKENS SPOTLIGHTED IN TRITON MAGAZINE - 2021 SPRING EDITION
Alongside Head Coach
Denny Harper (men's water polo) and Head Coach
Liz LaPlante (women's tennis), Head Coach
Patti Gerckens of Triton Softball was featured in Triton Magazine. With more than a century worth of coaching experience at UC San Diego, the three longest tenured coaches were honored in a Q & A segment. To read the full article, click
here.
MILESTONE MADNESS
UC San Diego has seen multiple Tritons reached career milestones throughout the month of April.
Sherriah Harrington notched career hit number 150 on April 11, as
Bobbi Aguirre (April 10),
Keila Bosinger (April 17), and
Isabel Lavrov (April 23) tallied base knocks 100, one weekend after another.
Additionally,
Danica Kazakoff stole her 50th career base on April 17, becoming eighth on the all-time list as
Robyn Wampler continues to etch her name atop various individual pitching categories.
SHERRIAH HARRINGTON ON TRITONCAST
In episode 45 of Tritoncast, the senior first baseman shares her favorite memories over the last four years with Triton softball. She also explains how a decision she made at six years old impacted her life to this day. Plus, the future doctor breaks down her plans for medical school. To listen, click
here.
KAIA SIMPSON GARNERS USE CREDIT UNION ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Sophomore
Kaia Simpson was named UC San Diego's Athlete of the Week on April 26 for her dominant pitching performance against UC Davis in game two of the three-game conference series. For more, click
here.
LEAD OFF SUCCESS
Keila Bosinger has been everything a coach can ask for from a leadoff batter. The junior has reached safely 24 times out of 45 opportunities, good for .533 when she is the first Triton up in an inning. She also leads the teams in multi-hit games with 12, including seven in the last 15 games.
THE REAL DEAL
Sophomore
Sophia Real has lifted her batting average 167 points since beginning Big West play. The Poway native got off to a slow start in 2021, but ever since conference games kick-started on Mar. 26, the third baseman/shortstop quickly found a way out of the rut. Real is batting .339 in league games with 21 hits and has only struck out five times in 77 Big West plate appearances.
TRITONS HIGHLIGHTED ON NCAA TOP PLAYS
Keila Bosinger and
Bobbi Aguirre were featured on the @NCAASoftball Instagram and Twitter handles for their spectacular defensive plays against UC Santa Barbara. You can find the plays,
here.
NFCA TOP PERFORMERS
The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) selected Harrington and Pederson as top performers for the week of Mar. 30 based on their numbers against the Gauchos. In the mix were various players from top-ranked teams, including Oklahoma, Oregon, and Washington.
FIRST-EVER BIG WEST CONFERENCE WEEKLY ACCOLADES
Senior
Robyn Wampler and junior
Clarissa Reynoso were named the program's first-ever Big West Pitcher of the Week and Field Player of the Week, respectively, for their efforts against Grand Canyon. For more, click
here.
Week seven of conference weekly awards brought the Tritons their first-ever Big West freshman accolade.
Deena Pederson was named the Big West Freshman of the Week on Mar. 29 following her breakout weekend against UC Santa Barbara. For more, click
here.
BIG WEST LEADER BOARDS
UC San Diego fares well among the league's leader boards, despite playing the third-fewest games (32). Its offense is ranked third in home runs (22). Among Big West play, the Tritons' RBI count (94) is good for third, while they are fourth in stolen bases (26).
Individually,
Kaia Simpson is tied for second in saves (2). In conference games,
Robyn Wampler is tied for second in appearances (16), fourth in innings pitched (74.2) and tied for fourth in strikeouts (56).
HITTING
| TEAM |
RBI (BWC) |
| 1. Cal State Fullerton |
161 |
| 2. Long Beach State |
135 |
| 3. UC San Diego |
94 |
| 4. Hawaii |
89 |
| 5. UC Santa Barbara |
88 |
| TEAM |
HOME RUNS |
| 1. Cal State Fullerton |
59 |
| 2. Long Beach State |
30 |
| 3. UC San Diego |
22 |
| 4. Cal Poly |
18 |
| 5. Hawaii |
17 |
| 5. UC Davis |
17 |
BASE RUNNING
| TEAM |
STEALS (BWC) |
| 1. Cal State Fullerton |
55 |
| 2. UC Davis |
30 |
| 3. UC Riverside |
27 |
| 4. UC San Diego |
26 |
| 5. Hawaii |
21 |
| 5. Long Beach State |
21 |
COMING UP CLUTCH
UC San Diego has capitalized in pressured situations as well as situational play all season long. The team is batting .405 with the bases load, .288 with runners in scoring position and .624 with a runner on third and less than two outs.
Individually, with the bases juiced,
Bobbi Aguirre is 4-for-6 (.667). With runners in scoring position, she is 14-for-32 (.438) and .800 (8-for-10) with a runner on third and less than two retired.
Sherriah Harrington has shown her ability to extend an inning, generating an average of .355 (11-for-31) with two outs. Like Aguirre, Harrington has been crucial in contributing runs as she is currently 8-for-12 (.667) with a runner on third and less than two down.
ROOKIE IN A PINCH
Freshman
Gabby Williams has been a standout for the Tritons both at the plate and in the circle. UC San Diego's first hitting pitcher since Tess Granath in 2012, the rookie has put up impressive numbers, regardless of limited games played due to injury. Williams is batting .355 on the season in which six of her 11 hits have come by way of the long ball and four of those home runs have been produced in pinch-hit situations.
EXTRA INNINGS •
RUN-RULES •
ONE-RUN GAMES
UC San Diego has played in five extra-inning contests, winding up on the losing side of all but one -- its first DI win vs. GCU (6-5 (9), Feb. 21). The Tritons have also experienced eight mercy-rule outcomes this year, producing a record of 5-and-7 in those shortened games. In addition, they have competed closely with opponents, taking on a handful one-run games, where they have narrowly edged their contenders three out of seven times.
LINEUP SHUFFLE
The Tritons have seen 28 different starting lineup arrangements by batting order and have prepped 22 different lineups by position.
SENIOR WEEKEND
Prior to the CSUN doubleheader on May 8, UC San Diego celebrated and recognized five outstanding seniors for their contributions to Triton Softball:
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.
RUNNING THE RECORD BOOKS
WAMPLER MOVES TO SECOND ALL-TIME IN WINS & Ks, TOSSES 500TH CAREER STRIKEOUT
Over the span of her career, Wampler has embedded herself into multiple categories of the UC San Diego record books. After taking game one from USD on Mar. 21, Wampler surpassed Melissa Ward (2005-08) in all-time career wins. Then, on April 16, against arguably the best team in the Big West, Cal State Fullerton, Wampler fanned her 500th batter in game one of the four-game series.
Overall, she is prevalent in saves (15/1st), strikeouts (533/2nd), innings (656.1/4th), complete games (65/4th), and appearances (126/4th).
Saves
Wins
Strikeouts
LOVIN' THE LONG BALL
Like Wampler, Harrington and Aguirre have also left their marks in the record books, specifically in the home run category. With 15 four-baggers, Harrington sits at sixth in Triton history, while Aguirre is in ninth with 12 of her own.
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 793-629 (.557) 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.
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.
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.
SARA ALLARD AS TRITONS' ESPN3 COLOR ANALYST
Sara (Robinson) Allard '07 will star as the Tritons' ESPN3 color analyst for most of UC San Diego softball's home games this season. Former first baseman for the blue and gold, Allard amassed a fielding average of .989, tallying 430 put outs, 28 assists and just five errors over the course of four season. Allard later went on to serve as an assistant coach for the Tritons from 2008-12, where she was part of the 2011 National Championship Title and the 2011 NFCA Coaching Staff of the Year honor.
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.
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.
