LA JOLLA, Calif. – On Feb. 11, in a Saturday night doubleheader at the La Jolla Invitational, UC San Diego was shutout by Utah, 7-0. Then rematching Stonehill in the night cap, the Tritons topped the Skyhawks 8-0 in six innings.
 
The Tritons move to 3-1 on the season. Utah remains undefeated at 4-0 and the Skyhawks are 0-4.
 
Getting the start in game one, Jada Cecil tossed 4.2 innings allowing 10 hits, six runs with no walks and three strikeouts. The sophomore was relieved by Kaia Simpson for the final 2.1 innings, who allowed one run on two hits and recorded three strikeouts as well. At the plate, Deena Pederson went 1-for-3 with a double and Hailey Mulligan went 2-for-2.
 
Starting game two for the Tritons, Kaia Simpson pitched the minimum facing 12 batters. The right-hander gave up one hit and no runs with 5 strikeouts and six groundouts. Three of those groundouts were fielded by Simpson, including a double play. Coming in as relief, Shelby Thompson finished the game in the circle allowing two hits with no runs and one strikeout.
 
UTAH 7, UC SAN DIEGO 0
 Scoring in five innings, the Utah Utes got off to a quick start with a run in the top of the first. The Tritons threatened in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff double from Deena Pederson. The following three Tritons were unable to bring her home.
 
The Tritons had no response to the Utes and a home run in the fifth put them down by six. The sixth went scoreless for both teams and the Utes notched their final run in the top of the seventh.  
 
UC SAN DIEGO 8, STONEHILL 0
Wrapping the top of the first with a double play, Kaia Simpson sent the ball to shortstop Hailey Mulligan who made a quick turn to first baseman Bobbi Aguirre. The Tritons jumped on the board early with a leadoff, solo home run from Deena Pederson. Keila Bosinger threatened with a double and the Tritons were able to get two more on. Gabby Williams and Aguirre reached third and second but were left stranded.
 

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Watch: https://t.co/jim260ZySR#GoTritons ?? pic.twitter.com/0y2aAezgCD

— UC San Diego Softball (@UCSDsoftball) February 12, 2023

 
In the second, Simpson went three-up, three-down with two strikeouts. Mulligan reached after being walked by Stonehill. Mikaila Pancino was able to advance Mulligan to second on a sac bunt. Then on a sac fly from Pederson, Mulligan scored, putting the Tritons up 2-0.
 
UC San Diego put three more runs on the board in the third. When Williams was hit by a pitch and then Aguirre was walked, Zoe Richards lined a double out to right center plating both runners. Richards was able to get to third on pass ball and then made it the final 60 feet to score on a wild pitch.
 
Finishing it in the sixth inning, the Tritons put up three more runs on the Skyhawks. Alexa DeMarse laced a double down the left field line to get into scoring position. On a Stonehill error, Bosinger was able to reach after bunting and DeMarse made it across home plate. Williams singled to right field to advance DeMarse and put two Tritons on the basepaths. Morgan Eng entered as a pinch runner for Williams and proceed to steal second, allowing Bosinger to steal home with the defense distracted. Eng got the go-ahead to steal third and was hit by the catcher's throw down which allowed her to pop back up and score the final run, 8-0.
 

???????????? finishes it! ?? Tritons win!
UCSD: 8??
Stonehill: 0#GoTritons ?? pic.twitter.com/CIzoKt04l2

— UC San Diego Softball (@UCSDsoftball) February 12, 2023

HIGHLIGHTS


'TRITON TIDBITS

• Kaia Simpson pitched the minimum tonight in game two, facing only 12 batters over four innings. The senior field three of six ground out plays, including a double play.
• Both Simpson and Shelby Thompson sport a 0.00 ERA after two appearances for Thompson and three for Simpson.
• Deena Pederson leads the Tritons at the plate with a .600 batting average.
• This is the second meeting of the Tritons and the Utes. Utah leads the series at 2-0.
• UC San Diego moves to a 3-1 record as they open the 2023 season hosting the second annual La Jolla Invitational.

 
UP NEXT
UC San Diego will wrap up the La Jolla Invitational as they face Utah on Sunday morning at 9:00 am. The game will be live on ESPN+ with Steve Quis calling the action.

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.