SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – On Friday, UC San Diego topped UC Santa Barbara in the opening game of the series, 5-1.
 
At the plate, the Tritons were led by second baseman Isabel Lavrov who went 3-for-3 with two runs and one walk, and catcher Clarissa Reynoso, who batted in three RBIs. From in the circle, freshman Jada Cecil got the start for the Tritons and allowed no runs on two hits with seven strikeouts and one walk. Shelby Thompson came in as relief for Cecil and allowed one run on two hits with one strikeout and no walks.
 
The Tritons move to 15-13 overall and 3-1 in conference, while the Gauchos move to 9-20 overall and 1-3 in conference.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tritons started with two quick runs in the top of the first. Bobbi Aguirre was walked for the 17th time this season to get on. She was followed by Isabel Lavrov, who sent a double down the left field line to advance Aguirre and reach second. A single down the left field line by Clarissa Reynoso plated Aguirre and Lavrov to put the Tritons up 2-0.
 
In the third, UC San Diego added another run to their lead. Back-to-back doubles from second baseman Lavrov and cleanup hitter Reynoso set up Alexa DeMarse to bring Lavrov home on a fielder's choice.
 
Mikaila Pancino was walked to start the fourth inning. Then Keila Bosinger sent a double to right center to plate Pancino and extended the Triton's lead to 4-0.
 
At the top of the seventh, Bosinger laced a single to right field and then advanced to second when a Gaucho's fielder's choice allowed Aguirre to reach. Lavrov was then walked to load the bases. Reynoso forced in a Triton run when she was walked after battling through a full count.

The Gauchos responded in the bottom of the seventh with a single run but were unable to overcome the Triton's pitching staff.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• Today, Bobbi Aguirre was walked for the 17th time this season. She is currently the second most walked player in the Big West.
• With today's competition, Clarissa Reynoso has recorded 14 RBIs, passing her 2021 season total of 11.
• This is Jada Cecil's fifth shutout of the year. 
• This is the 17th time the Tritons and Gauchos have faced one another, the Tritons move to 5-12 in their all-time record.

UP NEXT
UC San Diego is back tomorrow at UC Santa Barbara to finish the series with a doubleheader starting at 1:00 pm on Saturday, March 26. Both games will stream on the UC Santa Barbara website.

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 38 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 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.