LA JOLLA, Calif. – UC San Diego (14-27) and CSUN (22-23) faced off in a doubleheader at Triton Softball Field, splitting the two games. The Matadors took the first game in a 5-2 result while the Tritons bounced back to win the final game in extra innings with a 3-2 victory.
The Tritons move to 14-27 overall and 12-12 in Big West while CSUN moves to 22-23 overall and 15-9 in conference play.
CSUN 5, UC SAN DIEGO 2
Defeating the Tritons in a 5-2 result, the Matadors took game one fueled by a decisive three-run fifth inning.
Haley Garcia led the Tritons with two RBIs, contributing two hits in four at-bats while playing center field.
Jaden Hill made a significant defensive impact with six assists at shortstop.
Elise Nishimura recorded two hits in three at-bats, maintaining a perfect fielding record with three assists at second base.
Zara Wasserman added to the offensive effort with a double as part of her one hit in three at-bats.
Claire Adams pitched four innings, allowing four hits and three earned runs, with two strikeouts.
In the third inning, both teams broke the scoreless tie. CSUN's Liana tripled to right field, driving in two runs. Garcia responded for the Tritons with a single to right field, bringing home two runners and leveling the score at 2–2 after the third inning.
The fifth inning shifted momentum as CSUN capitalized with three runs which extended CSUN's lead to 5–2. Although the Tritons' defense held CSUN scoreless in the sixth and seventh innings, their offense struggled to capitalize on opportunities, leaving two runners on base in the sixth and one in the seventh. Ultimately, CSUN secured the 5–2 victory.
UC SAN DIEGO 3, CSUN 2 (8 INN.)
Bouncing back, UC San Diego triumphed over CSUN 3-2 in extra innings, when a the Tritons managed to walk it off in the eighth.
India Caldwell led the Tritons with a complete game, pitching 8 innings, allowing five hits and no earned runs, while striking out five batters.
Zara Wasserman contributed offensively with two hits and one RBI, while
Alexa DeMarse added to the team's scoring with one hit and one RBI.
Morgan Eng showcased her speed with a stolen base and contributed a hit.
The Tritons established an early advantage by scoring in the first inning. Eng singled on a bunt and later scored on a single by Wasserman, giving the home team a 1–0 lead. The Tritons' defensive efforts kept CSUN scoreless through the early innings.
In the fifth, UC San Diego extended their lead to 2–0. Hermosillo reached base due to an error and was replaced by pinch runner Womack, who scored on a single by DeMarse.
However, CSUN rallied in the seventh inning, scoring two runs to tie the game at 2-2. The Tritons responded in the eighth; Hill reached base on an error, advanced to third on a double by Jimenez, and scored on a wild pitch, putting the Tritons ahead 3–2.
UP NEXT
UC San Diego will make a up a non-conference game from the preseason as they travel to California Baptist on Monday, April 28 for a 6 p.m. first pitch in Riverside. The game will be live on ESPN+ with live statistics 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.
