LA JOLLA, Calif. – On April 9, in a Saturday afternoon doubleheader, UC San Diego split the day with Long Beach State and dropped the series, 2-1.
 
The Tritons move to 19-18 overall and 7-5 in the Big West, tied at third with Hawai'i. The Beach move to 19-17 overall and 9-3 in the Big West, moving into second.
 
In game one, Kaia Simpson got the start for the Tritons, allowing two runs on six hits with two strikeouts and three walks. Shelby Thompson came in as relief for Simpson to finish the final three innings, allowing two runs on three hits with two strikeouts and one walk.
 
In game two, the Tritons were led by the designated player Morgan Eng who went 2-for-4 at the plate and recorded her first collegiate RBI. Keila Bosinger went 1-for-4 at the plate and on her single hit, won the game with a solo walk-off homerun. In the circle, Jada Cecil got the start for UC San Diego, going six innings and allowing one run on three hits with nine strikeouts and one walk. Gabby Williams relieved Cecil in the seventh and allowed no runs and no hits with two walks.
 
GAME TWO: LONG BEACH STATE 5, UC SAN DIEGO 0
The Tritons were shutout in game two of the series, unable to overcome Beach's defense. The gold and blue threatened in the second and fourth innings but stranded six runners.
 
GAME THREE: UC SAN DIEGO 2, LONG BEACH STATE 1
The final game of the series was a battle as Long Beach jumped ahead early, plating a runner in the third inning.
 
UC San Diego responded in the bottom of the fourth when Morgan Eng recorded her first collegiate RBI. With one out on the board, Clarissa Reynoso was walked by Long Beach. Then third baseman Zoe Richards laced a single up the middle to advance Reynoso. Pinch hitter Mikaila Pancino reached on a fielder's choice as Beach tagged Reynoso at third, recording the second out. Eng stepped up with Richards in scoring position and sent another single up the middle to plate Richards and tie the game, 1-1.
 

And we are ???? !
???????????? with her first RBI of the season and her career ??
??: https://t.co/oRjdG2mbGK#GoTritons ?? pic.twitter.com/TRCq3b9saO

— UC San Diego Softball (@UCSDsoftball) April 9, 2022

Both teams remained scoreless as the pitchers battled it out in the final three innings. In the top of the seventh, Gabby Williams retired one batter and her infield picked up the final two outs to finish Beach's at-bat. In the second at-bat of the bottom of the inning, centerfielder Keila Bosinger stepped up to the plate and powered a solo homerun over the right center fence to end the game, 2-1.
 

?????? with the ?????????? ??
?? WIN

??: https://t.co/oRjdG2mbGK#GoTritons ?? pic.twitter.com/V5JlKs2WvW

— UC San Diego Softball (@UCSDsoftball) April 9, 2022

QUOTABLE


TRITON TIDBITS

• Freshman Morgan Eng recorded her first collegiate RBI in the final game of the series, helping UC San Diego to the 2-1 victory.
• In game three, Jada Cecil recorded nine strikeouts in her six innings of work and allowed one run on three hits and one walk.
• Gabby Williams pitched in relief allowing no runs and no hits in the final inning of game three.
• In the Big West, Cal State Fullerton sits in first at 9-2, Long Beach State is in second at 9-3 with Hawai'i at 7-4. After today's split, the Tritons sit in fourth place, one game ahead of UC Riverside and UC Davis.
• The Tritons move to 1-6 in their all-time vs. record against Long Beach State.

UP NEXT
UC San Diego will be on the road for a three-game series at Cal State Fullerton on April 15 and 16. Game one of the series is scheduled for 7:00 pm PST and will air on ESPNU. The doubleheader on Saturday, April 16 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.