TEMPE, Ariz. – UC San Diego opened the ASU Invitational with a win over North Florida, 6-4, in game one. In game two, Arizona State run ruled the Tritons in a five-inning shutout for a final score of 15-0.
 
The Tritons move to 4-11 while North Florida moves to 9-7 and Arizona State improves to 12-6.
 
India Caldwell got the start for the Tritons tossing four innings of work allowing one run on four hits with four punch outs. Gabby Williams came in as relief and allowed two earned runs on two hits with a walk. Caldwell came back in for the seventh with one out and the tying run at the plate to shut the door leaving three runners stranded earning the win. At the plate, Teagan Dobson went 2-for-4 batting two runs in. Adding their support, Deena Pederson and Hailey Mulligan both went 2-for3 with each batting a run in and Mulligan hitting her first home run of her collegiate career. Alexa DeMarse scored twice with Lexi O'Gorman and Morgan Eng each scoring once.
 
Getting the start, Gabby Williams gave up nine runs on nine hits with three strikeouts in 2.1 innings of work. Shelby Thompson came in as relief for 1.2 innings of work, allowing five earned runs on six hits with one strikeout and no walks. Only three Tritons recorded a hit: Alexa DeMarse, Lexi O'Gorman, and Hailey Mulligan.

UC SAN DIEGO 6, NORTH FLORIDA 4
The Tritons struck first in the first and second innings putting three unanswered runs on the board. Two walks back-to-back allowed Alexa DeMarse to reach on a fielder's choice as the second out was recorded at second. She proceeded to steal second to set up Teagan Dobson to plate Lexi O'Gorman and DeMarse on a single sent down the left field line. The next run came on an in the park home run by Hailey Mulligan as the lead off hit in the bottom of the second.
 
North Florida responded with a run in the top of the third inning, 3-1.
 
In the bottom of the third, DeMarse become the lead off runner on single hit to center field. Dobson sent her own single to right center and advanced DeMarse to third. On a sac fly, Brooklyn Lee plated DeMarse to extend the Tritons' lead to 4-1.
 
The Triton pitching staff shut out the Ospreys for the next three innings while adding runs in two of those innings. Getting it started in the fourth, Georgia Heathcock won a 3-2 count battle to walk. Reilly Erickson the pinch ran for Heathcock. Morgan Eng was then able to reach on a fielder's choice as Erickson was tagged out at second. Eng proceeded to steal her eighth base of the season to get into scoring position. O'Gorman advanced Eng to third by setting down a sac bunt. Deena Pederson then powered a single to left field to bring Eng home.
 
In the fifth, Lee sent a single to the hot corner to become the lead off runner. Marissa Hassis pinch ran for Lee and was soon back in the dugout as Mulligan cranked a double to left center to plate Hassis.
 
The Ospreys rallied in the top of the seventh to score three runs to come within two of the Tritons when a gold and blue error extended the inning. India Caldwell reentered the circle with the tying run at the plate to shut the door with a pop up and ground out.

UC SAN DIEGO 0, ARIZONA STATE 15 | 5 INN.
A nine-run third inning sealed the Tritons' fate as the Sun Devils went into the fourth inning at 10 runs. UC San Diego threatened only two times in the fourth and fifth.
 
On two outs, Alexa DeMarse powered a double down the third base line on a full count. Hailey Mulligan then laced a single through left field. DeMarse turned the corner on third and headed for home, but the tag came before she could break the shutout.
 
The Tritons loaded the bases in the fifth inning as their final attempt to score some runs. Kayleigh Coberly and Jackie Tremper both battled through seven pitches and full counts to win the walk. Lexi O'Gorman then laced a single through the left side to load the bases. In a heartbreaking at-bat, Reilly Erickson struck out swinging after facing 15 pitches on a full count.

TRITON TIDBITS

• Hailey Mulligan led going 3-for-4 with an RBI and run scored.
• Alexa DeMarse was 2-for-6 at the plate with two runs scored.
• Deena Pederson went 2-for-7 with a walk and run batted in.
• Lexi O'Gorman went 1-for-5 today with a run scored and a walk.
• In game one, the delay of game caused India Caldwell to come out of the circle in the fifth to take a quiz scheduled for 2 p.m. PST. She then reentered in the seventh to shut the door with the tying run at the plate.
• This was the first meeting for UC San Diego and both opponents. The Tritons have yet to defeat a Pac-12 opponent.
   

UP NEXT
UC San Diego continues the ASU Invitational with a doubleheader beginning at 8 a.m. PST on Saturday, March 2 against James Madison. In game two, they will face North Florida for a second time. Live stats will be available for both games 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.