LA JOLLA, Calif. – UC San Diego fell to Long Beach State, 6–5, at Triton Softball Field in a closely contested Friday evening matchup. UC San Diego (12-19, 2-8) erased a four-run deficit with four runs in the third inning, but LBSU (19-13, 7-3) secured the victory with two runs in the fifth.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beach took the lead in the third inning, capitalizing on a series of key plays to gain momentum. Lina Apodaca and Avery Weisbrook reached base, setting up Priscilla Iniguez for an RBI single to right center. A sacrifice fly by Nina Sepulveda and a two-run homer by Audree Mendoza extended the visitors' lead to 4–0.
UC San Diego responded in the bottom of the third, tying the score with its own four-run inning.
Marley Espiau's single, followed by a throwing error and a series of hits, enabled
Haley Garcia,
Samantha Womack, and
Tyla Arbuckle to reach base.
Maalia Cherry delivered an RBI single, and Espiau drove in two more with a single to center, tying the game at 4–4.
After the Beach regained the lead with two runs in the fifth, Triton freshman
Gianna Ioja hit a pinch-hit home run to right in the bottom of the sixth, but UC San Diego could draw no closer.
Espiau contributed with two hits, driving in two RBIs, which were both recorded with two outs. Garcia registered a hit and scored a run in her four plate appearances.
Lily Hermosillo added one hit and brought in an RBI while also successfully recording a sacrifice hit.
UC San Diego lefty Zoe Rutherford closed out the game with 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just one hit and striking out one batter on 23 pitches, 18 of which were strikes.
TRITON TIDBITS
- Gianna Ioja hit her second home run of the season – both as a pinch hitter.
- Haley Garcia was 1-for-3 Friday. The center fielder leads UC San Diego with 35 hits this season.
UP NEXT
The Tritons and Beach conclude their three-game Big West series with a doubleheader Saturday afternoon in La Jolla. Game one gets underway at 1 p.m. from Triton Softball Field. Both games will air live 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 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.
