LA JOLLA, Calif. – UC San Diego (2-16) faced Cal State Fullerton (16-9) in a doubleheader on Saturday at Triton Softball Field in La Jolla, Calif., suffering a close loss in the first game (4-2) and a more decisive defeat in the second (8-0).
UC San Diego falls to 2-16 overall and 0-3 in conference. Cal State Fullerton improves to 16-9 overall and 3-0 in conference.
In the first game,
Samantha Womack had a strong performance, going 2-for-2 with a run scored as a leadoff hitter.
Lily Hermosillo contributed with one hit and one RBI in her two at-bats, also executing a successful sacrifice hit.
Zara Wasserman added to the offensive output with a double, her only hit in three at-bats. On the mound,
India Caldwell pitched a complete game, throwing seven innings while allowing 16 hits and striking out five batters without issuing a walk.
In the second game,
Alexa DeMarse stood out for the Tritons with a key contribution at third base, recording a double during her 1-for-2 performance at the plate. Her defensive play was solid, adding two assists.
Jackie Tremper also made an impact defensively at shortstop with five assists. Catcher
Lily Hermosillo was effective in controlling the game, managing to catch one runner stealing out of three attempts. In the pitching department,
Callie Christian pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing three hits and three earned runs while throwing 71 pitches, 39 of which were strikes.
CAL STATE FULLERTON 4, UC SAN DIEGO 2
The visitors struck first with a run scored in the top of the first, second, and fourth until the Tritons were able to respond. Scoring a run in the fourth,
Samantha Womack started the inning with a blooper out to right field and dove into first to beat out the ball.
Lily Hermosillo's sac bunt forced a Titan error that allowed Womack to make it home all the way from first and score. Two more Tritons were able to get on but were eventually left stranded.
The Titans were able to pull further away with a run in the top of the seventh, 4-1. UC San Diego rallied in the bottom of the final inning with a double from
Zara Wasserman to get it started.
Lexi Ellenwood entered to run for Wasserman and advanced to third on a foul out by
Elise Nishimura. A wild pitch brought Ellenwood across to make it 4-2. The next two Tritons fell before the rally could continue.
CAL STATE FULLERTON 8, UC SAN DIEGO 0 (5 inn.)
Callie Christian and Fullerton's Eva Hurtado battled for four innings allowing no runs to come across and allowed five hits between the two of them. In the fifth, the Titans blew the game open hanging 8 runs on the board.
The only time the Tritons threatened was in the bottom of the first inning when
Alexa DeMarse cracked a double to the warning track in centerfield. The Titan's pitcher struck out four of the gold and blue and the Tritons were unable to rally in the bottom of the fifth as they were retired in order.
TRITON TIDBITS
- Between the two games, UC San Diego left 10 runs on base – 5 in each game.
- Freshman Samantha Womack was 2-for-4 with a run scored.
- India Caldwell tossed a complete game with five strikeouts tallied and only allowed three earned runs on 16 hits.
UP NEXT
The Tritons break up conference play with a single game matchup against Cal Baptist on Tuesday, March 11 in Riverside. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. and will stream live on ESPN+ with live stats 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 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.
