LA JOLLA, Calif. – UC San Diego softball got revenge on Sunday morning at Triton Softball Field when they defeated Portland State in a 5-2 decision.
The Tritons move to 1-3 and Portland State is now 1-3.
Getting the start,
Claire Adams went to work for three innings with two hits allowed, one walk given up, and two punchouts.
Lauren Rozell came on in the fourth inning and allowed two hits in her one inning of work.
India Caldwell came in as relief and gave up two runs on three hits with one punchout over the final three innings of work.
At the plate, catcher
Lily Hermosillo led the way going 2-for-2 and earning a walk with a run scored and batted in with a base stolen. Outfield newcomer,
Emma Umemura earned her career first RBI on her single hit of the game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tritons struck first with a single run in the bottom of the first inning.
Morgan Eng took four balls to earn the walk and proceeded to steal second immediately. The senior was advanced to third on a ground out.
Lily Hermosillo then brought Eng the final 60 feet home on a single laced to right center. In the circle,
Claire Adams kept the Vikings scoreless through the third.
UC San Diego added an insurance run to the board in the bottom of the third. With two outs on the board,
Elise Nishimura became the leadoff runner after getting hit-by-pitch. Hermosillo moved Nishimura to third on a single sent to right field. A Portland State error allowed Nishimura to come in and score, 2-0.
The Triton pitching staff held the Vikings scoreless to the fifth inning when the visitors were able to tie it up at 2-2. UC San Diego responded in the bottom with the go-ahead run.
Hayley Garcia was the go-ahead run after lacing a single up the middle. The junior proceeded to steal second and was able to score on PSU throwing error, 3-2. In the bottom of the sixth, the Tritons added two more runs to the board. Hermosillo faced five pitches to earn the walk and then stole second.
Chloe Lesko took four balls to earn the walk and join her catcher on base.
Emma Umemura then powered a single to center giving Lesko and Hermosillo time to score.
India Caldwell held PSU to two runs in the final three innings and shut the door on the Vikings in the top of the seventh as she forced a one-two-three inning.
TRITON TIDBITS
- Lily Hermosillo went 2-for-2 with a run scored and batted in.
- Emma Umemura went 1-for-2 and batted in two runs for her career first RBI.
- Morgan Eng, Lily Hermosillo, and Haley Garcia each stole a base.
- Lineup: Morgan Eng (CF), Elise Nishimura (2B), Lily Hermosillo (C), Chloe Lesko (DP), Zara Wasserman (1B), Alexa DeMarse (3B), Emma Umemura (LF), Ryanna Alano (SS), Haley Garcia (RF), Claire Adams (SP)
- Collegiate start: Ryanna Alano (SS)
- This is head coach Nikki Palmer's first win since taking over the UC San Diego program.
- The 4th annual La Jolla Invitational wrapped with one final game between Winthrop and Portland State following the conclusion of the Tritons' matchup.
UP NEXT
UC San Diego will travel north to the Silicon Valley Classic in the Bay Area hosted Feb. 14 thru 16. The Tritons will play five games against UIC, San Jose State, Colorado State, and Santa Clara.
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.
