LA JOLLA, Calif. — UC San Diego continued to roll early on, picking up two more wins Friday. The Tritons defeated Weber St., 11-5, and FDU, 8-0 in 5 innings, Friday at Triton Softball Field. At 8-1, the Tritons are off to their best-ever start since moving to Division I in 2021.
 
UC San Diego's offense was highlighted by three home runs on the day: Marley Espiau and Samantha Womack in game one, and Dylan Kunkle smashed a long ball in game two.
 
UC SAN DIEGO 11, WEBER STATE 5
UC San Diego secured a decisive victory with a powerful offensive display in the second and sixth innings. In the second, Espiau launched a three-run homer to left field, bringing home Emma Umemura and Haley Garcia, turning the tide of the game. This explosive inning put UC San Diego ahead for good, building momentum that carried through the rest of the contest.
 
In the sixth inning, Maalia Cherry's two-run double further extended the lead, while Jackie Tremper's two-run double later in the inning added insurance runs. UC San Diego's defense also played a key role, executing a double play in the fourth inning to stifle Weber State's scoring opportunities.
 
Although Weber State initially took a two-run lead in the first inning, UC San Diego's offensive pressure and timely hitting overcame the early deficit, ultimately leading to a commanding win.
 
Espiau scored three runs and had three RBIs in a standout performance. Cherry collected four hits and three RBIs, contributing significantly to the team's offensive output. Womack scored three runs and added a home run.
 
Lefty Zoe Rutherford pitched five innings, allowing only two hits and striking out two batters, securing a win in relief. She pitched five innings, allowing two runs—one earned—on two hits while striking out two and walking two. Claire Adams closed the game effectively, securing the save with 1 2/3 innings pitched, allowing one hit, and striking out three without giving up an earned run.
 
UC SAN DIEGO 8, FDU 0 (5 INNINGS)
Game two was highlighted by a strong offensive performance that included 12 hits and three extra-base hits. The Tritons' pitching staff held FDU to just one hit over five innings, while the team capitalized on two Knights' errors to extend the lead.
 
UC San Diego took control in the third inning with a sequence of timely hits and strategic plays to build a decisive lead. After Maalia Cherry was hit by a pitch, Gianna Ioja entered as a pinch runner and immediately made an impact. Zara Wasserman doubled to right-center, bringing Ioja home. Dylan Kunkle followed with a single up the middle, allowing Wasserman to score from second, giving the Tritons a 3-0 advantage.
 
In the fourth inning, the Tritons extended their lead with aggressive base running and capitalizing on opponent errors. Marley Espiau singled and stole second, later scoring on a deep fly ball combined with a throwing miscue. Ioja singled, then stole second and advanced to third on another error. Wasserman delivered an RBI single to further increase their lead. Kunkle's two-run homer in the fifth cemented the Tritons' commanding position, while FDU struggled to respond, managing just one hit throughout the contest.
 
Dylan Kunkle recorded three hits, including a home run, and drove in three runs. Marley Espiau added two hits and scored twice, contributing an RBI and a stolen base. Zara Wasserman finished with two hits, a double, and two RBIs. Gianna Ioja made an impact as a pinch hitter, collecting a hit and scoring twice.
 
Bella Settembro pitched effectively in relief, appearing in two innings without allowing a run. She faced seven batters, giving up one hit while striking out two and throwing 17 of her 25 pitches for strikes. Her performance included three flyouts and a groundout, securing a shutout in her outing.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• The game two shutout was the Tritons' third of the season.
• Freshman Bella Settembro improved to 3-0 with her victory in game two.
• Sophomore Marley Espiau leads the team with 15 runs batted in through nine games.

 
UP NEXT
Play continues at the USD/UCSD Co-Host Tournament on Saturday when the Tritons host Colorado State at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with a link to live stats on UCSDTritons.com. Admission to all games at Triton Softball Field is free.

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 in NCAA Division I. The 24-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 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 39 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 NCAA Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.