LA JOLLA, Calif. – UC San Diego returned to a rainy Triton Softball Field to host the University of South Dakota Coyotes in an afternoon doubleheader. After playing nine innings, the Tritons walked it off in the bottom of the ninth to take the victory at 2-1 in game one. Due to the weather and unsafe conditions of the field, game two of the doubleheader was canceled.
 
The Tritons move to 10-14 and University of South Dakota moves to 9-15.
 
Right-hander Jada Cecil got the start in the circle for the Tritons, allowing one run on one hit. The sophomore fanned six Coyotes and walked three. She forced two groundouts and four fly outs. Kaia Simpson came on in as relief for Cecil in the fifth inning. The righty allowed no runs on two hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Simpson forced 12 groundouts as she earned the victory in the ninth. The duo held the Coyotes to a total of three hits.
 
Morgan Eng, Bobbi Aguirre, Keila Bosinger, and Georgia Heathcock each got a single with three and four at-bats. Mikaila Pancino was 1-for-1 with an RBI, walking it off for the Tritons to win. Clarissa Reynoso batted in the other run on a fielder's choice suicide squeeze.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Coyotes jumped on the board first when a triple pushed in a runner in the top of the second.
 
With both teams remaining scoreless in the third, UC San Diego tied the game in the bottom of the fourth on a suicide squeeze. Getting the Tritons started, Bobbi Aguirre singled down the left field line to become the lead runner. Kelley Renner came on to pinch run for Aguirre. With Keila Bosinger at bat, Renner stole second to move into scoring position and then advanced to third. Clarissa Reynoso came up to the plate and put down a bunt to plate Renner and tie the game.
 
Threatening in the bottom of the sixth, the Tritons stranded Morgan Eng 60 feet from home. In the eighth, Eng once again threatened from her position on second, but was unable to be brought in.
 
The game remained tied into the bottom of the ninth inning. Bosinger laced a single past the shortstop to become the winning run on first. Then after four pitches, Reynoso was walked by the Coyotes' pitching staff to reach and advance Bosinger. Teagan Dobson put down a sacrifice bunt and was able to reach on a fielder's choice to advance Bosinger and Reynoso to third and second safely. With bases loaded, Mikaila Pancino stepped up to the plate for her first at-bat of the game. On a 1-2 count, Pancino knocked a single through the left side to walk off the game as Bosinger came in to score.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• Mikaila Pancino was 1-for-1 with an RBI.
• Keila Bosinger was 1-for-4 with a run scored.
• Kaia Simpson tossed a total of 69 pitches forcing 12 groundouts. She fanned three Coyotes and walked two. The senior only gave up two hits to the 20 batters she faced.
• Morgan Eng leads the Tritons with a .409 batting average with 16 stolen bases so far this season.
• Meeting the University of South Dakota for the first time the Tritons now lead the all-time series at 1-0.

UP NEXT
UC San Diego hits the road to open Big West Conference play at CSU Bakersfield for a three-games series beginning with a doubleheader on March 16. Action is set to begin 12:00 pm and will be live on ESPN+ with live stats 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.