FULLERTON, Calif. – In a prime time matchup, nationally televised on ESPNU, UC San Diego took the series opener over Cal State Fullerton on Friday night, 4-3.
 
From in the circle, freshman Jada Cecil got the start for the Tritons and allowed three runs on four hits with seven strikeouts and one walk. In the top of the fifth, Gabby Williams came on in as relief and allowed no runs on two hits with one walk and one strikeout in two innings of action. In the bottom of the seventh, Kaia Simpson came in as relief and allowed no runs on one hit with three strikeouts.
 
The Tritons were led by first baseman Bobbi Aguirre who went 1-for-2 at the plate and was walked two times by the Titans. Catcher Clarissa Reynoso hit a three-run homer on her single hit of the game. The Tritons left a total of eight runners on base tonight.
 
The Tritons advance to 20-18 overall and 8-5 in conference, while Cal State Fullerton moves to 25-15 overall and 10-3 in conference.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Cal State Fullerton put two early runs on the board in the bottom of the first. The Tritons responded in the top of the second when Clarissa Reynoso sent a three-run moonshot over the center field fence. Bobbi Aguirre laced a single through right center as the lead runner and Deena Pederson was hit by a pitch to reach and advance Aguirre. On her first at-bat and on her first pitch, Reynoso powered a home run over the center field fence, plating Aguirre and Pederson to take the lead, 3-2.
 
In the top of the fourth, UC San Diego extended their lead to 4-2 on an RBI from Kelley Renner. The inning began when Aguirre battled through eight pitches to walk. Mariah Melendez then entered as a pinch runner for Aguirre. A sac bunt from Pederson advanced Melendez into scoring position. Reynoso was able to reach on a Titan error on a dropped third strike. Melendez and Reynoso advanced another base on a ground out. Renner had a 2-2 count when she sent laced a single past the first baseman and brought Melendez the final 60 ft home.
 
The Titans responded with a home run in the bottom of the fourth. They threatened in the fifth but were unable to overcome UC San Diego's pitching staff.
 
Cecil, Williams, and Simpson all recorded strikeouts against the Titan batters. Simpson struck out three of the final four batters to finalize the Triton win.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

•  Tonight's broadcast was the first nationally televised UC San Diego competition since transitioning to DI.
• All three Triton pitchers – Jada Cecil, Gabby Williams, and Kaia Simpson – struck out at least one batter during their time in the circle.
• This is the sixth time UC San Diego and Cal State Fullerton have faced one another; the Tritons move to 3-4 in their all-time vs. record.
• In the Big West, Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State are tied for first at 10-3. After tonight's win, the Tritons sit in third place, tied with Hawai'i at 8-5.

UP NEXT
UC San Diego is back in action tomorrow, April 16, to finish the series at Cal State Fullerton with a doubleheader starting at 1:00 pm. Both games will broadcast on ESPN+.

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.