FULLERTON, Calif. – UC San Diego softball's fourth inning rally was not enough to overcome conference leader Cal State Fullerton in the finale matchup of the three-game series as the Tritons fell in a 5-4 decision on Saturday afternoon.
UC San Diego falls to 6-8 in Big West play and 13-26 overall. Cal State Fullerton remains atop the standings at 13-2 in conference and 27-14 overall.
Getting the start in the finale,
Shelby Thompson allowed three earned runs on six hits with one walk and strikeout. Entering in as relief,
India Caldwell allowed one run on four hits with three strikeouts.
At the plate, Zoë Richards led the way going 2-for-3 with two runs batted in and two runs scored.
Deena Pederson added her bat with another two runs batted in.
Morgan Eng and
Alexa DeMarse each tallied a run scored.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Getting on the board in the bottom of the first, CSF scored two to take the lead at 2-0. The Tritons responded in the third with two runs of their own. Getting the Tritons started, Zoë Richards powered a single up the middle and advanced to second on a sac bunt from
Mariah Melendez.
Morgan Eng joined Richards on the bases after getting hit by a pitch. On a ground out, both runners advanced to third and second. On a hard shot through the left side,
Deena Pederson plated both Richards and Eng.
Fullerton responded in the bottom of the same inning with two more runs.
Chasing the lead, UC San Diego rallied to tie it up again in the top of the fourth.
Brooklyn Lee sent a single back to the pitcher to become the leadoff runner.
Alexa DeMarse then reached on a fielder's choice as Lee was out at second. With two outs on the board and DeMarse waiting on first, Richards hit a rocket over the left field fence to plate DeMarse and herself, 4-4.
A Fullerton solo-home run in the fifth allowed the home team to take back the lead, 5-4. The Tritons were unable to respond in the sixth and seventh as the final six batters were retired in order with four strikeouts.
TRITON TIDBITS
- Zoë Richards hit her first home run of the season and second of her collegiate career in today's matchup. She was 2-for-3 at the plate.
- Deena Pederson went 1-for-2 today with two runs batted in.
- Morgan Eng and Alexa DeMarse were both 1-for-3 with a run scored.
- India Caldwell has tossed 90 strikeouts so far this season.
- Cal State Fullerton leads the all-time series at 11-2.
UP NEXT
The Tritons return home to host UC Davis in a three-game series with a doubleheader on Friday, April 19 and a single game on Saturday, April 20. All three games will be live on ESPN+ and live stats will be 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 began a new era in 2020 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 earned 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 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.
