LA JOLLA, Calif. – In the series and season finale on Saturday afternoon, UC San Diego topped Cal Poly with a score of 10-4 to take the series, 2-1.
The Tritons finish at 27-26 overall and 15-12 in the Big West while Cal Poly finishes at 19-29 overall and 14-13 in the Big West.
The Tritons were led by second baseman
Isabel Lavrov who was 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs recorded and two batted in. Right fielder
Mikaila Pancino added support at the plate, going 2-for-4 with three RBI on the day. Nine Tritons tallied a run today with eight tallying an RBI.
In the circle for the Tritons,
Jada Cecil got the start against the Mustangs and allowed three runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
Gabby Williams came in as relief in the top of the fourth and allowed one run on three hits with one strikeout and two walks.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Cal Poly struck early in the top of the first with three runs.
The gold and blue responded in the bottom half of the inning with four runs of their own, kick started by lead-off batter,
Deena Pederson. Pederson laced a single past the second baseman to reach and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. The Mustangs walked
Bobbi Aguirre with four pitches. With two on and no outs,
Isabel Lavrov started the Tritons' run. Lavrov powered a double to center field to plate Pederson and advance Aguirre to third. An out was recorded, and the Mustangs walked
Clarissa Reynoso before Cal Poly made a pitching change.
Alexa DeMarse battled through seven pitches to single at the pitcher and plate Aguirre and advance both Lavrov and Reynoso. The bases were loaded again for the Tritons when a single from
Zoe Richards plated Aguirre.
Mikaila Pancino then came up to bat with three runners on and laced a single through the left field to plate Reynoso. The Tritons finished the first inning after 40 minutes of play with the score 4-3.
It was quiet for two and half more innings when the Tritons hung another five runs on the Mustangs in the bottom of the fourth. Aguirre opened the half with a hard hit single up the middle of the Mustang defense.
Mariah Melendez came in to pinch run for Aguirre as Lavrov laced another single through the left side to reach and advance Melendez.
Keila Bosinger powered a single to left center to plate Melendez and advance Lavrov to second.
As the Reynoso plated Lavrov and advanced Bosinger with a single up the middle, the Mustangs made another pitching change.
Morgan Eng came on to pinch run for Reynoso and on a Mustang error, the bases were loaded with Bosinger on third, Eng on second, and Richards on third. Facing another loaded base situation with one out, Pancino batted in Bosinger and Eng on a single powered through the middle of the Cal Poly defense.
Marissa Hassis stepped up to the plate as a pinch hitter for the Tritons. She proceeded to single through the right side to plate Richards for a score of 9-3 headed into the fifth.
The Tritons threatened to end the game in the sixth when three runners reached. DeMarse battled through another high pitch count to walk. On a fielder's choice and Mustang error, DeMarse advanced to second and Richards reached first. Both then advanced on a wild pitch.
Kelley Renner then launched a double to left center to plate DeMarse for the Tritons' final run.
Cal Poly responded with one run in the top of the seventh but had no answer for UC San Diego's pitching staff.
Jada Cecil and
Gabby Williams combined to hold the Mustangs to four runs, tossing three strikeouts and forcing 11 ground outs and seven fly outs. The Triton pitching staff stranded 10 Mustangs on the bases.
QUOTABLE
TRITON TIDBITS
- Isabel Lavrov was 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs recorded and two batted in during her senior game.
- Mikaila Pancino had a career high three RBI recorded in the series finale.
- Alexa DeMarse tallied a run, a hit, an RBI, and a walk today.
- Today was the nineth game of the season that the Tritons recorded 10 or more hits in a single game.
- The Tritons finish their second season at NCAA Division I with another winning record.
- UC San Diego moves to 4-20 in their all-time vs. record against Cal Poly.
UP NEXT
Today marked the end of the UC San Diego softball team's regular season.
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.
