SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — UC San Diego began Big West play Saturday at UC Santa Barbara, dropping a pair to the defending Big West champs at Campus Diamond. UC San Diego (10-12, 0-2 Big West) hit back-to-back homers in the first game before falling, 9-2. In game two, UC Santa Barbara (11-14, 2-0 Big West) earned an 8-4 victory, despite the Tritons ripping 15 hits – matching their season high.
 
GAME ONE: UCSB 9, TRITONS 2
UC San Diego struggled to contain UC Santa Barbara's offense in a pivotal fifth inning that sealed the game. A two-run homer by Ma'ae extended UC Santa Barbara's lead to 7-2, a gap the Tritons could not close. This inning proved decisive, setting the tone for the remainder of the contest.
 
Earlier, the Tritons had moments of offensive success, with Maalia Cherry and Zara Wasserman hitting back-to-back home runs in the second inning to briefly tie the score. Cherry's bomb caromed off the UCSB Baseball batting structure beyond the center field wall.
 
However, the momentum swung back to UC Santa Barbara in the third inning with two unearned runs after a dropped fly ball, widening the lead to 5-2. UC San Diego had limited chances to rally, leaving two runners on base in the sixth inning after a walk and a single.
 
In addition to the monstrous homer, Cherry drew two walks. Wasserman contributed two hits, including a home run, and drove in one run. Elise Nishimura added to the defense with three assists while also recording a hit. Haley Garcia provided support both defensively with an assist and offensively with a hit.
 
GAME TWO: UCSB 8, TRITONS 4
UC San Diego initially took a 3-0 lead in the second inning, highlighted by Haley Garcia's two-RBI single up the middle, scoring Ryanna Alano and Jackie Tremper. Malia Cherry added an RBI single to extend the lead. In the sixth inning, Garcia delivered again with an RBI single, but the Tritons couldn't close the gap further.
 
Garcia recorded three hits and three RBIs in the game. Marley Espiau made an impact defensively with five assists from the shortstop position. Cherry added three hits and an RBI. Jackie Tremper scored a run and collected two hits, including a double.
 
Callie Howard pitched 5 innings for the Tritons, allowing nine hits and 5 runs, 4 of which were earned, while recording one strikeout and issuing no walks over 72 pitches.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• These two teams split their two meetings in the 2025 Big West Championship before the Gauchos ultimately earned the conference title.
• Maalia Cherry leads The Big West with six homers.
• UC San Diego has dropped 11 straight.

 
UP NEXT
The Tritons and Gauchos meet again for the series finale on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. with a live 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 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.