CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. — UC San Diego first baseman
Maalia Cherry ripped a two-run homer, but the Tritons fell, 5-2, to No. 13 Texas A&M in a neutral-site matchup on Friday night at Big League Dreams in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. UC San Diego's record now stands at 10-4, while Texas A&M improved to 9-4.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The sixth inning proved pivotal. Trailing three-nothing, Triton shortstop
Marley Espiau singled and first baseman
Maalia Cherry launched a two-run homer to center field, closing the gap to 3-2.
However, Texas A&M responded in the bottom half, capitalizing on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly to push its lead to 5-2.
The Tritons had opportunities earlier, notably in the second inning, when
Jackie Tremper and
Tori Hinostro drew back-to-back walks, but they couldn't capitalize, leaving two runners on base. In the final frame, Hinostro doubled, and
Tyla Arbuckle singled, placing runners at the corners, yet the Aggies' defense held firm to secure the game.
TRITON TIDBITS
- Cherry's home run was her team-leading fourth of the season.
- Both Bella Settembro and Callie Howard made their team-leading eighth appearance of the season.
- Center fielder Haley Garcia has hit in the leadoff spot in each of the team's 14 games.
UP NEXT
UC San Diego wraps up play in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic with a pair of Saturday games. The Tritons will take on Seattle U at 12:30 p.m. and Rutgers at 8 p.m. Both games can be streamed on FloSports ($) with free live stats 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 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 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 NCAA Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.
