LA JOLLA, Calif.— UC San Diego softball returns home to host UC Riverside in a three-game conference series at Triton Softball Field. The series begins on Friday, April 28 for a single game matchup that will be followed by a doubleheader on Saturday, April 29.
 
The Highlanders enter the series at 4-14 in Big West play and 18-26 overall. UC Riverside is on a two-game losing streak in conference after dropping the final two games and the series to CSUN. The Highlanders have yet to win series in conference play and currently sit in ninth place, just behind UC San Diego. In a midweek matchup prior to this weekend, the Highlanders run-ruled Saint Mary's College on Tuesday afternoon.
 
The Tritons are currently 7-11 in Big West and 17-26 overall. UC San Diego snapped their five-game skid and won their first series since Big West play began in March when they went 2-1 over UC Davis. The Tritons are on a one-game win streak and currently sit in eighth place in conference standings. Hailey Mulligan earned conference recognition for her performance at UC Davis and was named Big West Freshman of the Week on April 24.
 
DETAILS
Game 1
Triton Softball Field
5:00 pm | April 28
Watch | Live Stats
 
Game 2 – DH
Triton Softball Field
1:00 pm | April 29
Watch | Live Stats
 
Game 3 – DH
Triton Softball Field
3:30 pm | April 29
Watch | Live Stats
 
ABOUT THE TRITONS
Roster | Schedule | Stats
2023 Overall: 17-26
2023 Big West: 7-11
2023 Home: 5-13
2023 Away: 7-8
2023 Neutral: 5-5
Streak: W1
 

ABOUT THE HIGHLANDERS

Roster | Sched | Stats

2023 Overall: 18-26 2023 Big West: 4-14

2023 Home: 13-10

2023 Away: 2-10

2023 Neutral: 3-6

Streak: W1

LAST TIME OUT
Taking the game into extra innings, UC San Diego defeated UC Davis, 4-3, in a Sunday morning rubber match on April 23. The Tritons improve to 17-26 overall and 7-11 in Big West play. UC Davis moves to 25-14 overall and 11-7 in the Big West.
 
Tossing her 11th complete game of the season, sophomore ace, Jada Cecil allowed three runs on seven hits with three walks. Holding the Aggies to two earned runs and one unearned, the right-hander fanned nine batters to even her record to 9-9 after the win.
 
At the plate, Morgan Eng led with a 3-for-4 performance and a run scored. Adding support, Keila Bosinger was 2-for-4 with two runs batted in. Hailey Mulligan was 1-for-3 with a run scored and a run batted in. Both Alexa DeMarse and Mariah Melendez recorded a run. Zoe Richard tallied an RBI with Bobbi Aguirre going 2-for-4 at the plate.
 
UP NEXT
UC San Diego stays home to host CSUN for the final home series of the 2023 season. The three-game series begins on May 5 with a single-game matchup and is followed by a doubleheader on May 6. All three games will be live on ESPN+ with live stats available on ucsdtritons.com.
 
MULLIGAN EARNS BIG WEST FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK HONORS
Hailey Mulligan's performance was critical to UC San Diego softball winning the series over UC Davis this past weekend and earned her Big West Freshman of the Week honors on April 24.

The freshman shortstop went 4-for-9 at the plate for an average of .444 which led the Tritons over the three games. Against the Aggies, she earned six total bases for an on-base percentage of .500. In game two, Mulligan was perfect at the plate going 3-for-3 with her first collegiate triple.  
 
The San Diego product came up big in the rubber match knocking a single through the right side to bring in her teammate from second base to cut the deficit to one run. In the seventh, UC San Diego was down by two when Mulligan was able to battle through her at-bat to earn a walk. She would eventually score to help tie up the game and send it into extra innings. The Tritons won the finale to take the series 4-3.
 
Mulligan is the third Triton to be recognized as Big West Freshman of the Week and the first this season.

AGUIRRE MAKES SPORTSCENTER TOP 10

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ENG BREAKS PROGRAM SINGLE-GAME RECORD

ICYMI: ???????????? ?????? cracked the program record for the most stolen bases in a single game with 6?? bases and leads the NCAA with that record ?? #GoTritons ?? pic.twitter.com/VmxW9i4dJW

— UC San Diego Softball (@UCSDsoftball) March 23, 2023

 
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.