LA JOLLA, Calif.—UC San Diego softball hits the road to begin Big West conference play at CSU Bakersfield with a three-game series. Starting with a doubleheader at noon on March 16 followed by a single game on March 17.

The Tritons are currently 10-14 and sit in eighth place in conference. The 'Runners enter the series at 5-18 and sit in 10th place.

DETAILS
Game 1
At CSU Bakersfield
12:00 pm | March 16
Watch | Live Stats
 
Game 2
At CSU Bakersfield
2:30 pm | March 16
Watch | Live Stats
 
Game 3
At CSU Bakersfield
12:00 pm | March 17
Watch | Live Stats
 
ABOUT THE TRITONS
Roster | Schedule | Stats
2023 Overall: 10-14
2022 Big West: 15-12
2023 Home: 4-7
2023 Away: 1-2
2023 Neutral: 5-5
2023 vs. Ranked Opponents: 0-2
Streak: W2
 

ABOUT ROADRUNNERS

Roster | Sched | Stats

2023 Overall: 5-18

2023 Home: 0-0

2023 Away: 1-12

2023 Neutral: 3-5

Streak: W1

LAST TIME OUT
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.
 
UP NEXT
UC San Diego will return to Triton Softball Field to host UC Santa Barbara in a three-game series with a doubleheader on Sunday, March 26 and a single game on Monday, March 27.
 
All three games will be available on ESPN+ with live stats available on ucsdtritons.com.

ENG SETS PROGRAM RECORD
On the road at the Lance Up Invite, the Tritons shutout Harvard in a 6-0 victory. During the win, sophomore Morgan Eng set a single-game high program record with six steals. The left fielder was 6-6 on the base paths. She currently leads The Big West in steals.

CECIL MAKES PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Sophomore Jada Cecil earns preseason recognition as she is named to the 2023 Big West Preseason Coaches' Team after a breakout rookie campaign.
 
Cecil returns to the circle for the Tritons after a dominant rookie season. Tossing 230 strikeouts over 174.1 innings of work with an ERA of 1.62, Cecil went 20-4 in the regular season for the gold and blue.
 
She broke three records in the 2022 season: the single-game high strikeouts, and the individual season-high strikeouts, and assisted the pitching staff in snapping the 20-year-old team single-season strikeout record as well.
 
The right-hander earned Big West Pitcher and Freshman Pitcher of the Year, making the conference First Team and All-Freshman team. Recognized nationally, she was a Top 10 Finalist for Schutt Sports/NFCA Division I Freshman of the Year and earned NFCA West Region Second Team honors.
 
BIG WEST PRESEASON POLL
The UC San Diego softball team was picked to finish fourth according to the 2023 Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll, as determined by the conference's head coaches. They were awarded 56 points in the poll. View full poll here.
 
2022 RECAPPED
In the 2022 season, the Tritons finished with an even record overall (28-28) and a winning record in The Big West (15-12).  It was a historical season as the Tritons made their first NCAA DI postseason appearance at the NISC Tournament in Colorado. They were the first UC San Diego team to make a DI postseason appearance.
 
Six Tritons earned All-Big West honors, including Jada Cecil earning Pitcher of the Year and Freshman Pitcher of the Year. Gabby Williams and Jada Cecil both earned All-West Region honors from the NFCA as well.

WHO'S BACK?
The team is returning 17 players, seven seniors: Keila Bosinger, Clarissa Reynoso, Kelley Renner, Kaia Simpson, Mikaila Pancino, Sophia Real, and Bobbi Aguirre; five juniors: Zoe Richards, Mariah Melendez, Deena Pederson, Shelby Thompson, and Gabby Williams; five sophomores: Jada Cecil, Morgan Eng, Marissa Hassis, Alexa DeMarse, and Reilly Erickson.
 
NEW FACES
Joining the team this season are six freshmen and one junior transfer:   Kayleigh Coberly, Lily Hermosillo, Georgia Heathcock, Hailey Mulligan, Hannah Allen, Claire Adams, and Teagan Dobson (transfer).

UC SAN DIEGO ON THE WORLDWIDE LEADER
Most UC San Diego home softball, baseball, men's and women's basketball games and men's and women's volleyball matches are broadcast live on ESPN+. For more information on where to watch UC San Diego softball, visit UCSDTritons.com/live.
 
FOLLOW THE TRITONS
Keep up with the Tritons all season long on social media through Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The team's handle is @UCSDsoftball.

GEAR 
For the latest Triton apparel and accessories, visit the official team store of the Tritons here.

FOR THE YOUNGER CROWD
Got some young Triton fans in your family? If they are eighth grade or under, check out the Junior Triton Club. Membership includes a free t-shirt, admission to over 100 UC San Diego home athletic events, and much more!
 
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.