LA JOLLA, Calif. – Long Beach State completed a series sweep, taking two games from host UC San Diego Saturday afternoon at Triton Softball Field. The Beach (21-13 overall, 9-3 Big West) took game one, 11-2 in five innings. In the nightcap, UC San Diego (12-21, 2-10) let a 2-0 seventh inning lead slip away in a 4-2 Beach triumph.
LBSU 11, UC SAN DIEGO 2
Long Beach State's decisive third inning shifted the game's momentum, scoring eight runs to take a commanding lead. Key hits, including a two-RBI single from Elissa Guerrero, and a two-RBI double by Lina Apodaca, were instrumental in the rally.
UC San Diego initially showed promise in the first inning when
Marley Espiau doubled and
Zara Wasserman brought her home with an RBI double. However, offensive momentum was hard to sustain.
Samantha Womack provided a spark in the fifth with a double, followed by
Tyla Arbuckle's productive RBI groundout, but the team couldn't close the gap. Missed opportunities in key moments left the Tritons unable to recover from Long Beach State's early advantage.
Espiau posted six assists in the field, highlighting her defensive contribution.
Auddrey Lira started in the circle, giving up one run in 1 2/3 innings, with two walks and two hits allowed.
LBSU 4, UC SAN DIEGO 2
The Tritons initially set the tone in the first inning, with
Haley Garcia advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt by
Marley Espiau, followed by
Zara Wasserman being hit by a pitch.
Gianna Ioja's walk loaded the bases, allowing
Jackie Tremper to earn an RBI after being hit by a pitch.
Dylan Kunkle later added another RBI with a fielder's choice, pushing the lead to 2–0.
UC San Diego saw a late lead slip away as Long Beach State mounted a decisive seventh-inning comeback. The visitors capitalized on timely hits, starting with a Nina Sepulveda single, followed by a Priscilla Iniguez RBI double. This set the stage for Brooklyn Lee, whose RBI double gave Long Beach State a lead at 3–2. Emily Dowden and Audree Mendoza contributed further with an RBI single and a sacrifice fly, respectively, finalizing a four-run inning.
UC San Diego had a chance to respond in the bottom of the seventh. Ioja and Tremper reached base, but
Lily Hermosillo grounded into a double play.
Samantha Womack's single followed, but Tremper was tagged out at home to end the game.
Zoe Rutherford pitched 6 innings, striking out six batters and allowing three earned runs, demonstrating resilience in the circle.
TRITON TIDBITS
- Center fielder Haley Garcia had three more hits on Saturday. The sophomore leads UC San Diego with 38 hits this season.
- Four Tritons ripped doubles on the day.
- Freshman Gianna Ioja started at designated player in game two. It was her fifth game serving as DP this season.
UP NEXT
UC San Diego continues Big West action next weekend, traveling to UC Riverside. The Tritons visit the Highlanders for a doubleheader on Friday followed by a Saturday game at 1 p.m. All three games can be seen on ESPN+ with live stats available 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 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.
