FULLERTON, Calif. – UC San Diego softball's season ended on Friday afternoon as the Tritons fell to UC Santa Barbara in the elimination game, 11-7.
The Tritons end the 2025 season 16-32 overall and 13-14 in Big West play.
After tossing two complete games on Wednesday and Thursday,
India Caldwell once again started and ended in the circle for UC San Diego. Going to work for 3.2 innings, the right-hander allowed two earned runs on four hits, four walks, and struck out four Gauchos.
Claire Adams made an appearance in the circle for 0.1 innings and allowed three earned runs on three hits and a walk.
Callie Christian also spent time in the circle for 2 innings, giving up three runs on one hit and four walks.
At the plate,
Lily Hermosillo led the way going 3-for-4 with two runs and three more batted in.
Morgan Eng and
Alexis Jimenez both went 2-for-2 plate with Eng scoring a run. Senior
Alexa DeMarse rallied her team with a two-run home run on her lone hit of the game.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Falling behind early, the Tritons were down by 6 runs heading into the fourth inning. On a two-out rally, UC San Diego was able to score two.
Lily Hermosillo made it to third after lacing a single through the left side and advancing on two groundouts. On a 1-1 count,
Alexa DeMarse cut the lead to four as she powered a home run over the left field fence scoring herself and Hermosillo.
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UCSB responded in the bottom with a grand slam to extend the lead to 2-10. Scoring two in the fifth, the Tritons rallied again to score on another two-out rally.
Morgan Eng laced a single through the left side to become the lead off runner.
Alexis Jimenez then powered a single past the shortstop to reach and advance Eng.
Reilly Erickson came in to run for Jimenez. A ground out from pinch hitter
Marissa Hassis moved the runners. Then a sac bunt from
Jaden Hill brought Eng home and Erickson to third.
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Lily Hermosillo then laced a single through the left side to bring Erickson in to score, 4-10.
UCSB responded again in the bottom with a single run, 4-11.
The Tritons scored three runs in the seventh as they fought to make the comeback. Eng led again as the lead off runner and was advanced to second on a ground out from Erickson.
Zara Wasserman was then walked. A fielder's choice forced Eng out but allowed Wasserman and Hill to get on second and first.
Lily Hermosillo then powered a two-out triple to score Wasserman and Hill, 6-11.
Elise Nishimura then powered a single up the middle to score Hermosillo.
The Tritons rally came too late as they ran out of outs for the final score of 11-7.
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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.
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