FORT COLLINS, Colo. – UC San Diego softball will move to an elimination game of the National Invitational Softball Championship Super Regionals after dropping to Baylor University, 10-2, in a Sunday matinee.
The No. 10 seeded Tritons move to 28-27 overall, and the No. 2 Bears are now 29-24 overall.
The Tritons were led by catcher
Clarissa Reynoso who was 2-for-3 at the plate, and pinch runner
Reilly Erickson recorded a run after entering for Reynoso. Designated player
Morgan Eng went 1-for-3 with one run scored. Left fielder
Alexa DeMarse went 1-for3 at the plate with an RBI.
Kelley Renner was 1-for-2 with an RBI recorded as well.
In the circle for the Tritons,
Jada Cecil got the start against the Bears and allowed four runs on five hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
Kaia Simpson came in as relief in the bottom of the fourth and allowed one run on five hits with two strikeouts and no walks.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bears landed on the board first with a solo home run in the bottom of the second and put four more runs up in the fourth before the Tritons responded.
In the top of the fifth, UC San Diego recorded two runs on four hits. It began when
Clarissa Reynoso had a hard-hit single to center field. On a 2-2 count,
Morgan Eng laced a single through the right side to advance Reynoso and take first.
Reilly Erickson came in at second to pinch run for Reynoso.
Alexa DeMarse slammed a double to the right center field fence to plate Erickson and advanced Eng to third. With two outs and two on,
Kelley Renner slapped a single through the right side to plate Eng and advance DeMarse. At the end of the inning the Tritons were within three of the Bears, 5-2.
The Tritons threatened in the sixth with bases loaded through two at-bats. On a throwing error from the shortstop
Isabel Lavrov was able to reach after hitting a slow roller to the left side.
Keila Bosinger battled a full count to win and walk, advancing Lavrov. Reynoso powered a single to center field, advancing her teammates one base each. Another out was recorded by BU. Then DeMarse battled a full count but ended up grounding out to first base. All three runners were left stranded as UC San Diego moved to defense.
The Bears scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth to finish the game.
TRITON TIDBITS
- Alexa DeMarse was 1-for-3 with one RBI, her eighth RBI of the season.
- Kelley Renner was 1-for-2 with an RBI, her fourth of the season.
- This was UC San Diego and Baylor University's first meeting and the second time the Tritons have played a Big 12 Conference member after facing Oklahoma earlier this season.
- Due to weather complications, the NISC has moved to a single elimination bracket for the final four teams and the championship round.
UP NEXT
The Tritons will continue competing in the NISC tournament and move to an elimination game against Tarleton State tomorrow, Monday, May 23 at 4:00 pm MT. Live stats will be available on UCSDTritons.com.
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.
