FORT COLLINS, Colo. – UC San Diego softball season ends after falling to Tarleton State University 6-4 at the National Invitational Softball Championship tournament. The Tritons finish their 2022 season at 28-28 overall after their three appearances at the NISC tournament.
 
The gold and blue were led by shortstop Deena Pederson who was 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored. Designated player Morgan Eng batted in two, along with second baseman Isabel Lavrov, who batted in one and scored one. Catcher Clarissa Reynoso was walked twice and recorded a run.
 
Lefty pitcher Shelby Thompson tossed a complete game for the Tritons allowing five runs on 11 hits with four strikeouts and no walks. Thompson pitched a total of 100 pitches and induced six flyouts and 11 groundouts with one error on the day.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Striking first, the Texans put up four runs in the top of the first and the Tritons responded immediately in the bottom with three of their own. Leadoff batter, Deena Pederson powered a double to left center on the first pitch. With a hard hit to right field, Isabel Lavrov reached on an error and made it to third. Pederson scored from second. Clarissa Reynoso was walked by the Texans after battling a full count and six pitches. Then Alexa DeMarse was walked after a full count and 11 pitches to reach and advance Reynoso to second. Morgan Eng slapped a single through the right field gap to plate Lavrov and Reynoso bringing the Tritons within one of the Texans after the first, 4-3.
 
In the top of the fourth, the Texans put another one on the board. UC San Diego responded again in the bottom of the inning with a run of their own. Pederson laced a single through the right side on a 0-2 count and quickly stole second during the next at-bat. With one on and two outs, Lavrov snuck a single up the middle on a full count to plate Pederson bringing the Tritons back within one, 5-4.
 
The Texans added an insurance run to the board in the top of the fifth and the Tritons threatened with the tying runs in the sixth but were unable to bring them home.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• Deena Pederson was 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs
• Morgan Eng was 1-for-3 with two batted in
• This was UC San Diego and Tarleton State University's first meeting and their third WAC opponent of the season after playing Cal Baptist and Seattle University.
• The Tritons' three appearances in the NISC tournament mark their first NCAA Division I postseason appearance and win over Rutgers University.
• UC San Diego finishes this season at .500 improving on last year's performance overall and in conference.

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.