FULLERTON, Calif. — UC San Diego freshman Gianna Ioja delivered a pinch hit two-run homer in the seventh inning, but it wasn't enough as the Tritons fell to Cal State Fullerton, 8–7, in the first game of a Big West series Saturday night at Anderson Family Field.
 
UC San Diego (12-16 overall, 2-5 Big West) rallied with two runs in the seventh inning but could not overcome the Titans' four-run fifth inning. Fullerton improved to 17-10 (6-1 BW) with Saturday's victory.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Cal State Fullerton capitalized in the fifth inning, scoring four runs to break a 4–4 tie and take an 8–5 lead. Key plays included a double by Verhoef, which drove in two runs, and a single by Lozano that brought in another. This sequence proved decisive despite a late push from the Tritons.
 
Earlier, UC San Diego rallied in the third inning, with Maalia Cherry drawing a walk with the bases loaded, bringing in a run. Zara Wasserman followed with a two-run single, putting the team ahead 3–2. In the fourth, Tyla Arbuckle extended the lead to 4–2 with an RBI triple. D
 
In the final inning, Gianna Ioja delivered a pinch hit two-run homer to center, narrowing the gap to one run. However, the rally ended there, leaving the Tritons just short of completing the comeback.
 
Zara Wasserman led the Tritons with two hits and drove in two runs. Arbuckle contributed offensively with a triple among her two hits, driving in one run and scoring once. Cherry demonstrated patience at the plate, drawing two walks and adding an RBI.
 
Claire Adams pitched one inning, giving up one earned run on one hit and two walks, and took the loss. Bella Settembro closed, pitching a scoreless inning, allowing one hit.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• The seventh inning pinch hit homer from Gianna Ioja was the first of his UC San Diego career.
• Adams took the loss in the circle, falling to 0-1 on the season.

 
UP NEXT
The Tritons and Titans will play a doubleheader on Sunday in Fullerton, with game one first pitch slated for just after 1 p.m. Both games will be televised on ESPN+, with a link to 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.