LA JOLLA, Calif. — UC San Diego softball stayed hot on Friday at its own La Jolla Invitational, beating Wagner 6-2 before a six-inning, run-rule victory over Saint Louis by a score of 11-3.
 
The Tritons gave up nine hits to Wagner but only the two runs before holding Saint Louis to just three hits. UC San Diego had double-digit hits in both contests, registering 10 versus Wagner and 14 against Saint Louis.
 
The 10-game La Jolla Invitational runs Thursday-Saturday at UC San Diego's Triton Softball Field. The Tritons are now 3-0 on the young season, having previously beat Wagner 11-3 in five innings on Thursday.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – UCSD 6, WAGNER 2
The Tritons used a four-hit, three-run fifth inning to open up what was previously a close game before adding an insurance run in the sixth. Bella Settembro earned the win after entering in the third inning and delivering five scoreless frames. Her efforts included inducing two ground-ball double plays and picking off a runner.
 
Gianna Ioja scored twice and added an RBI with a hit and a hit-by-pitch in her two plate appearances. Haley Garcia recorded two hits in four plate appearances. Marley Espiau hit a double and scored a run. Elise Nishimura collected a hit and an RBI.
 
Just like last night's game between the two teams, Wagner scored early. The visitors plated a run in each of the first two innings before the Tritons responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the second. Ioja scored on a wild pitch before an RBI single from Nishimura drove in Zara Wasserman.
 
The fifth inning was pivotal for the Tritons. Garcia singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Alyssa Doucette then delivered an RBI single, allowing Garcia to score. Ioja added another run with a single, driving in Doucette, and later scored herself on a double by Callie Christian. This offensive burst put the Tritons in front 5-2.
 
In the sixth inning, Espiau doubled and was brought home by Lily Hermosillo's RBI double, adding to the lead. The Tritons' defense then held firm through the seventh inning, preventing any further scoring from the Seahawks as the game finished 6-2.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – UCSD 11, SAINT LOUIS 3
The Tritons scored seven runs in the final two innings to run away from Saint Louis and end the game in the sixth with the run rule. UC San Diego tallied 14 hits, including three doubles and a home run, while holding the Billikens to just three hits over six innings.
 
Espiau powered the offense with a three-run home run and a double, driving in five runs and scoring twice. Samantha Womack contributed significantly by scoring three runs, hitting a double and collecting two RBIs in her four plate appearances. Garcia made an impact with a double, recording two hits and driving in a run.
 
Zoë Rutherford started the game for UC San Diego, pitching 2.2 innings and allowing three runs on one hit. Callie Howard pitched the final 3.1 innings and earned the win after not allowing a run and surrendering only two hits.
 
UC San Diego faced an early challenge when Saint Louis' Abby Mallo homered in the first inning. However, the Tritons responded in the bottom of the second with a three-run rally. Womack's single set the stage, and Espiau's RBI single tied the game. Garcia then doubled to drive in two more runs, aided by a fielding error, putting the Tritons ahead 3-1 after the second inning.
 
In the third inning, Saint Louis regained momentum with a two-run sacrifice fly from Anna Christ, leveling the score at 3-3. Doucette, the Tritons' right fielder, made a great grab but then landed awkwardly, resulting in the two runners tagging up and scoring.
 
The Tritons then took control of the game again in the fourth inning when Espiau doubled to bring home a run, pushing UC San Diego to a 4-3 lead. UC San Diego then started to blow the game open in the fifth inning. An error allowed Nishimura to score before Espiau's three-run homer resulted in a commanding 8-3 advantage for the Tritons at the end of the inning.
 
The sixth inning saw the Tritons continue their offensive streak. Nishimura's single added another run, and Womack's double brought in two more, ending the game via run rule with an 11-3 advantage.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• Espiau's home run was the first of the sophomore's career.
• After only having three run-rule victories all of last season, the Tritons already have two through the first three games of 2026.
• Four Tritons made their collegiate debuts on Friday: Ioja, Rutherford, Settembro and Tori Hinostro. 

UP NEXT
The La Jolla Invitational concludes on Saturday with four more games. The Tritons will be in the final two, playing Montana at 4:30 p.m. before a 7:00 p.m. game with Saint Louis. Admission to Triton Softball Field is free, but note that parking permits are required 24/7 on the UC San Diego campus.
 
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 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.