LA JOLLA, Calif. – Opening Big West play in La Jolla at Triton Softball Field, UC San Diego softball fell to Cal State Fullerton in the opening game of the three-game series in a 6-3 result.
 
Jaden Hill led the Tritons with a strong performance, hitting 2-for-2 and drawing two walks, contributing one run and stealing one base. Alexis Jimenez also made an impact by hitting a double and collecting one hit in four at-bats, while adding two assists from third base. Lily Hermosillo contributed both offensively and defensively with one RBI, two walks, and two assists as the catcher, successfully catching two runners stealing. India Caldwell pitched four innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts, while throwing 78 pitches, of which 44 were strikes.
 
The Tritons drop to 2-14 overall and 0-1 in conference play. The Titans improve to 14-9 and 1-0 in the Big West.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tritons struck first with a single run in the bottom of the first inning. After India Caldwell struck out two and then Lily Hermosillo caught a Titan stealing, Alexis Jimenez knocked a double out to left field to become the lead runner. Jaden Hill battled at the plate to earn the walk and advance Jimenez into scoring position. Hermosillo advanced Jimenez to third after she earned her own walk on six pitches. With Zara Wasserman at the plate, a wild pitch advanced the runners and brought Jimenez in to score.
 
The two pitchers battled in the second as each side fell in order with Caldwell tallying two more punchouts. It wasn't until the fourth that the Titans were able to get the tying and go ahead runs. Cal State Fullerton kept the pressure on as they scored again in the fifth and seventh to pull ahead to 6-1.
 
The Tritons rallied late in the bottom of the seventh, scoring two runs. Morgan Eng laced a single straight to the shortstop to become the lead runner, went on to steal second, and then to third on a wild pitch. UC San Diego loaded the bases with two walks back-to-back. The Titans made a pitching change and then walked in Eng as Hermosillo was able to get on. Hill was able to score when Wasserman grounded out to second base. Coming within three of the Titans, UC San Diego was unable to overcome the deficit before the final out was tallied.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• India Caldwell tallied four strikeouts for a season total of 37. The senior is tied for fifth in the Big West.
• Morgan Eng stole a single base in tonight's game and leads the Big West with 14 total.

 
UP NEXT
The Tritons will wrap the three-game series against Cal State Fullerton on Saturday, March 8 in a doubleheader set to begin at 1 p.m. at Triton Softball Field.
 
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.