LA JOLLA, Calif. — UC San Diego softball opened its latest Big West series by winning both games of a doubleheader with UC Davis on Friday at home at Triton Softball Field. The Tritons (12-14, 2-3 Big West) won game one 9-4 and game two 6-4.
 
The top two hitters in the lineup led the Tritons offensively. Leadoff hitter Haley Garcia had five hits, four RBIs and three runs combined. She was followed by Maalia Cherry, who totaled four hits, four RBIs and a run.
 
GAME ONE – UC SAN DIEGO 9, UC DAVIS 4
UC San Diego used a six-run second inning to power past the visiting Aggies in game one. The Tritons had six hits in that frame while also capitalizing on a pair of UC Davis errors. Four of those hits were singles, with Garcia and Lily Hermosillo registering extra base hits with doubles. Garcia knocked in two runs with hers, while Hermosillo got one RBI as a second potential run scorer was thrown out at home to end the inning.
 
The Aggies chipped together runs in the second, third, fourth and seventh innings but never scored more than one run in an inning. The Tritons added their first insurance run in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a Zara Wasserman double. A double by Cherry in the bottom of the fifth then plated two more Triton runs.
 
The Tritons used three different pitchers in the victory. Auddrey Lira pitched innings three through five and earned the win. The freshman allowed three hits and one earned run while recording one strikeout.
 
GAME TWO – UC SAN DIEGO 6, UC DAVIS 4
Defense was the name of the game in the second contest as the Tritons allowed just two hits through the first five innings. UC Davis finished with four hits and never recorded a multi-hit inning.
 
Zoë Rutherford started in the circle for the Tritons, earning the win after pitching four innings and allowing just two hits and one run. The freshman struck out three batters and also walked three batters. Callie Howard picked up the save after pitching the final two innings and giving up two hits and one run to go along with a strikeout.
 
UC Davis opened the scoring early with a run in the top of the first. A leadoff walk turned into a run despite Rutherford only allowing a single thanks to some smart base running. The Tritons then responded with three runs in the bottom of the second. Tori Hinostro doubled to bring in two, with Garcia singling to bring in another. UC San Diego had six hits in the inning and left the bases loaded.
 
The lead grew to 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth before UC Davis scored two in the top of the sixth to leave the Tritons only leading by one. But Garcia and Cherry would come through again for the hosts as both hit RBI singles to restore the lead to three. The Aggies got one run in the top of the seventh but could not complete the comeback as the Tritons secured the 6-4 victory.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• Garcia's three hits in game one tie a season high. The center fielder has reached that mark four times now this year.
• The Tritons' 13 hits in game one are their fourth-most this season. Their three doubles in that game are tied for second-most this season.
• UC San Diego has won its series with UC Davis in four of the last five years.

UP NEXT
The two teams will finish the series with a single game tomorrow. That contest begins at 11:00 a.m. at Triton Softball Field. Admission is free, with the game also broadcast on ESPN+.
 
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 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.