LA JOLLA, Calif. – On May 13, in a Friday afternoon doubleheader, UC San Diego took the series opener over Cal Poly, 6-2. In the second game, the Mustangs took an early lead to defeat the Tritons by one run, 3-2.
 
The Tritons move to 26-26 overall and 14-12 in the Big West while Cal Poly moves to 19-28 overall and 14-12 in the Big West.
 
In game one, Jada Cecil got the start for the Tritons, allowing one run on five hits with five strikeouts and no walks. Shelby Thompson relieved Cecil in the seventh and allowed one run on one hit with no walks. At the plate, the Tritons were led by shortstop Deena Pederson who went 3-for-3 with two runs scored, one RBI, and a total of four bases. Second baseman Isabel Lavrov added support at the plate with two runs and an RBI recorded. Both Pederson and Lavrov recorded solo-home runs in the fourth inning.
 
Gabby Williams got the start in the circle for the Tritons in game two of the doubleheader. Williams allowed one unearned run on four hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Kaia Simpson came on as relief in the fifth inning and allowed two runs on three hits with two strikeouts and no walks. Third baseman Keila Bosinger was 2-for-4 at the plate with a run recorded and first baseman Bobbi Aguirre was 2-for-3 with a run recorded. Clarissa Reynoso was 1-for-4 and batted in Bosinger and Aguirre on a two out rally double.
 
GAME ONE: UC SAN DIEGO 6, CAL POLY 2
UC San Diego's bats were hot in game one with three runs coming in the bottom of the first. Deena Pederson kicked off the offense with a single powered through the middle of the Mustangs' defense. Pederson then stole second and was called safe on an obstruction call. Pederson was advanced to third on a sac bunt from Morgan Eng. Isabel Lavrov was walked by the Cal Poly pitching staff and then stole second. With two runners on, Keila Bosinger laced a double down the left field line to plate both Pederson and Lavrov. Bosinger advanced to third on a passed ball and was able to score on a sac bunt from Bobbi Aguirre for the third run of the inning.
 
With the Mustangs scoreless, the Tritons tacked on another run in the third. Aguirre laced a single to left field and the advanced to second as Clarissa Reynoso reached on a Mustang error. Alexa DeMarse powered a single to the left field fence to plate Aguirre for a 4-0 score.
 
In the fourth, on a 2-0 count, Pederson launched her first no-doubter of the season over the left center fence to extend the Triton's lead to 5-0. With two outs on the board, Lavrov sent her own solo-home run over the left field fence for another Triton run.
 
The Mustangs responded in the sixth and seventh with two runs but were unable to overcome the deficit.
 
In six innings of work, Jada Cecil recorded five strikeouts and forced eight foul outs and five ground outs, allowing only one run.
 
GAME TWO: CAL POLY 3, UC SAN DIEGO 2
The Mustangs struck first in the top of the third inning with a single run and tacked on another two in the fifth, leading the Tritons 3-0.
 
The Tritons responded in the bottom of the fifth with two runs. Aguirre began the rally with a single powered to left field. Bosinger then laced a single through the left side to reach and advance Aguirre into scoring position. Battling through a five pitch at-bat, Reynoso launched a double to left center to plate Aguirre and Bosinger, 3-2.
 
The Tritons trailed the Mustangs into the bottom of the seventh and threatened with two runners on but stranded the runners on a fly out.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• Shortstop Deena Pederson was perfect at the plate in game one with a solo-home run in the fourth - her first home run this season.
• The 10 strikeouts tonight recorded by the Triton pitching staff snapped the 20 year-old team single-season strikeout record at 358. It was previously set in 2002 at 352.
• After today's doubleheader, UC San Diego and Cal Poly are tied for fifth place in the Big West. They are both one game ahead of CSUN and one game behind UC Riverside.
• The Tritons have 26 wins this season and Jada Cecil is responsible for 19 of them after taking game one of the series.
• UC San Diego moves to 3-20 in their all-time vs. record against Cal Poly.

 
UP NEXT
UC San Diego finishes their season and the series against Cal Poly in a single game matchup tomorrow, on May 14. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm and will broadcast on ESPN+. The Tritons' lone senior, Isabel Lavrov will be honored after the end of the game.

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.