CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – Returning to Mary Nutter Classic the Tritons split their first day of competition, defeating Portland State in extra innings, 6-5, and then falling to No. 10 Washington, 7-0.
UC San Diego moves to 7-6 while Portland State moves to 4-7 and No. 10 Washington improves to 12-3.
In game one,
Gabby Williams got the start in the circle allowing four runs on five hits with three walks and a strikeout. Coming on as relief,
Jada Cecil allowed two hits with one unearned run, no walks, and one strikeout. The right-hander forced nine fly outs and five ground outs in her five innings of work. At the plate the Tritons were led by
Bobbi Aguirre who went 2-for-4 was walked and batted two runs in and scored a run.
Kaia Simpson got the start in game two and gave up one run on three hits. Walking three batters with a strikeout, Simpson forced seven ground outs in her 3.2 innings of work. Coming in as relief,
Shelby Thompson gave up five runs on five hits with a strikeout.
Jada Cecil then came on in the sixth, allowing one run on three hits with one walk and a strikeout. At the plate,
Alexa DeMarse was 2-for-2. The Tritons left eight runners stranded.
UC SAN DIEGO 6, PORTLAND STATE 5 (8 INN.)
The Vikings jumped to an early lead putting three runs on the board in the top of the first. UC San Diego responded in the bottom of the inning with two runs. After
Keila Bosinger reached on an error by the Vikings shortstop,
Gabby Williams hit a no doubter over the left field fence.
The Tritons took the lead in the bottom of the second when
Clarissa Reynoso doubled to left field,
Hailey Mulligan was walked, and another PSU error allowed
Mikaila Pancino to reach. With bases loaded a sac fly from
Deena Pederson plated Reynoso.
Bobbi Aguirre then laced a single up the middle to plate Mulligan and put the Tritons up 4-3.
Portland State tied the Tritons in the top of third and the scored remained tied into extra innings.
With a runner on second in the eighth inning, PSU was able to go up 5-4. After the first out was record for the Tritons, a double from Aguirre drove in
Reilly Erickson from second to tie the score once again. Bosinger was walked and another out was recorded.
Marissa Hassis lined a single out to center field to plate Aguirre and walk it off for the win.
WASHINGTON 7, UC SAN DIEGO 0
UC San Diego kept the Huskies off the board for three innings. Threatening in the third, the Tritons loaded the bases.
Alexa DeMarse started the inning with a single lined past the pitcher. On a fielder's choice,
Kayleigh Coberly was able to reach with DeMarse tagged out at second. Facing two outs,
Deena Pederson laced a single through the right side to advance Coberly into scoring position. On another fielder's choice,
Bobbi Aguirre was able to load the bases. The Tritons left the three runners stranded as the final out came.
The Huskies opened the game up in the fifth inning with five runs. The Tritons threatened again in the bottom of the fifth but were unable to convert. Washington scored their final run in the top of the seventh. With two runners on in the bottom of the seventh, the Tritons threatened once again but couldn't overcome the Huskies' pitching staff.
TRITON TIDBITS
- Washington is the first top 25 team the Tritons have faced in 2023.
- This was the Tritons first meeting with the Vikings and Huskies.
- Deena Pederson continues to lead the team at the plate with a .442 batting average. She was 1-for-5 today with an RBI.
- Marissa Hassis leas the Tritons in on base percentage at .500. She has been walked seven times this season.
- Gabby Williams recorded her first home run of the 2023 season against Portland State.
UP NEXT
UC San Diego will continue competition at the Mary Nutter Classic and will face Texas Tech tomorrow at 5 pm. Live stats are 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.
