LONG BEACH, Calif. – Opening the three-game series on Thursday night in Long Beach, UC San Diego (2-17) fell to Long Beach State (12-9) with a final score of 5-4 as the hosts walked it off to win.

Jaden Hill recorded one hit and one run, while also contributing defensively with three assists from shortstop. Lily Hermosillo made her presence felt at the plate with a hit and an RBI, adding to her performance by successfully advancing runners in three of her at-bats. Zara Wasserman delivered a solid offensive showing, achieving two hits and an RBI, along with a stolen base, and maintaining a clean fielding record at first base. India Caldwell pitched a complete game, throwing 6 2/3 innings and striking out four batters, while allowing six hits and five earned runs.

The Tritons drop to 2-17 overall and 0-4 in Big West play. Long Beach State moves to 12-9 overall and improves to 3-1 in conference.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tritons struck first in the opening inning of the game with a single run on two walks and a stolen base. Morgan Eng become the lead off runner after seeing four straight balls pitched in her first at bat. She immediately stole second for the 96th stolen base of her career to move into scoring position. Jaden Hil proceed to earn a walk to get herself on first. Both runners were advanced on a ground out. Lily Hermosillo proceeded to put a bunt down the first base line for the sacrifice to bring in Eng and score on the suicide squeeze.
 
Beach responded in the bottom of the inning with their own run to keep the score even at 1-1.
 
In the third inning, the Tritons hung 3 runs on the board to pull ahead to 4-1. Eng was the lead runner once again as she reached on a shortstop error and proceed to steal second once again. Hill's bunt went toward third where Eng was headed, but a Beach error allowed the senior to round the last bag and score for her second time tonight. Alexis Jimenez was next up and was drilled by the pitcher on the first pitch to reach and advance Hill to second. Hermosillo put down another sac bunt to advance both runners another base. After moving to second, Jimenez was relieved on the base paths as Ryanna Alano came in to pinch run. Zara Wasserman stepped into the batter's box, took a strike, and then sliced a single through to left field to bring Hill home to score and advance Alano to third. With runners on the corners, Alexa DeMarse was able to reach first and bat in Alano as a fielder's choice tagged Wasserman out at second.
 
The hosts pulled with in one as they scored 2 in the bottom of the inning, 4-3.
 
For the next three innings, the Triton defense held the Beach scoreless. India Caldwell saw 11 batters over those three innings, retiring the side in order in the fourth and then stranding a runner in both the fifth and the sixth.
 
Tragedy struck in the seventh as the Tritons left the bases loaded after knocking two singles and taking a hit by pitch. The bad luck continued as the home team was able to load the bases themselves, walk in a run, and then walk it off for the victory.

UP NEXT
Tomorrow, UC San Diego will wrap the three-game series at Long Beach State with a doubleheader set to begin at 3 p.m. at LBSU Softball Complex on the Long Beach campus.
 
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.