LA JOLLA, Calif. – UC San Diego dropped the series opener to Long Beach State on Friday night, 5-2.
 
From in the circle, freshman Jada Cecil got the start for the Tritons and allowed four runs on six hits with three strikeouts and one walk. In the top of the sixth, Shelby Thompson came on in as relief and allowed no runs with no walks.
 
The Tritons were led by shortstop Marissa Hassis who was 2-for-3 at the plate, and second baseman Isabel Lavrov went 1-for-3 with two runs on the night. Six Tritons were walked by the Long Beach State pitching staff, and 11 runners were left on base for UC San Diego.
 
The Tritons move to 18-17 overall and 6-4 in conference, while Long Beach advances to 18-16 overall and 8-2 in conference.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Beach jumped ahead early with four runs in the top of the first inning.

Both teams remained scoreless until the bottom of the fifth, when UC San Diego put a run on the board. Clarissa Reynoso powered a double over the infield into left center, plating Isabel Lavrov who sprinted home from first. Lavrov had reached after she had been walked by Beach's Samantha Fowler.

Long Beach responded in the top of the sixth with another run, extending their lead to 5-1.
 
The Tritons rallied late in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases on one out. Lavrov laced a single past the shortstop to start the rally. After Reynoso was hit by a pitch, Lavrov moved into scoring position. Then pinch hitter, Mariah Melendez was walked by Long Beach to load the bases. On a sac fly to right field, Deena Pederson was able to plate Lavrov to bring the Tritons within three runs, 5-2. Reynoso advance to third, but was stranded as UC San Diego was unable to overcome Beach's pitching.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

•  Jada Cecil pitched five innings tonight, moving to 12-3 this season. The four runs she allowed are the highest number of runs she has allowed all season.
• Shelby Thompson recorded season bests in hits (0) and earned runs (0) from in the circle tonight.
• This is the fifth time the Tritons and Long Beach State have faced one another; the Tritons move to 0-5 in their all-time vs. record.
• In the Big West, Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State are tied for first at 8-2 with Hawai'i at 7-2. After tonight's loss, the Tritons sit in fourth place, one game ahead of UC Riverside.

UP NEXT
UC San Diego is back tomorrow, April 9, to finish the series against Long Beach State with a doubleheader starting at 12:00 pm. Both games will broadcast on ESPN+ with Tracy Warren calling the action.

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.