RIVERSIDE, Calif. – On April 30, in a Saturday afternoon doubleheader on the road, UC San Diego dropped both games to UC Riverside. In game one, they lost by a deficit of three runs and were shutout in game two with a score of 8-0.
 
The Tritons drop to 22-24 overall and 10-10 in the Big West. The Highlanders move to 20-22 overall and 11-9 in the Big West.
 
In game one, Jada Cecil tossed a complete game for the Tritons, allowing three earned runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. One unearned run was also recorded by UC Riverside. At the plate, four Tritons were 1-for-3, but Mariah Melendez recorded her first collegiate hit and drove in the Tritons' lone run.
 
Gabby Williams got the start in game two for the Tritons, allowing three runs on six hits with seven strikeouts and one walk. Kaia Simpson entered as relief for Williams in the fifth and allowed four runs on three hits and an additional unearned run with two batters walked. In the bottom of the sixth, Shelby Thompson relieved Simpson and allowed no runs with one hit and no walks. The Tritons were shut out in game two and Deena Pederson recorded the Tritons' lone hit.
 
GAME ONE: UC RIVERSIDE 4, UC SAN DIEGO 1
UC Riverside struck twice in the third, taking an early lead at 2-0.
 
In the top of the fifth, the Tritons responded with a lone run batted in by Mariah Melendez. Clarissa Reynoso battled a 10 pitch at-bat to walk. Reilly Erickson entered at first for Reynoso as a pinch runner. Two outs were recorded by the Highlanders when Melendez stepped up to the plate. On a full count, she sent a dart to the left field foul pole fence to plate Erickson who made it home all the way from first, bringing the Tritons within one of the Highlanders.
 
As UC Riverside tallied two more runs, the Tritons were unable to overcome the deficit.  
 
GAME THREE: UC RIVERSIDE 8, UC SAN DIEGO 0 (6 INN.)
UC San Diego was shutout in game two by the UC Riverside defense. Deena Pederson recorded the lone hit in the top of the third, ruining the no-hitter. Over the six innings, three Tritons were walked and three were left on base.
 
In the circle, Gabby Williams recorded seven strikeouts in her four innings of work, tying her career high record for the second time this season.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• Mariah Melendez recorded her first collegiate career hit in game one today.
• Gabby Williams tied her career high strikeout record for the second time this season in game two.
• Game one was the third time this season that 11 Tritons have struck out in a single game.
• UC San Diego moves to 8-17 in their all-time vs. record against UC Davis.

 
UP NEXT
UC San Diego returns tomorrow, May 1, for the final game of the series vs. UC Riverside. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm at the Amy S. Harrison Softball Field and 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.