LA JOLLA, Calif. — UC San Diego pieced together a pair of wins on Saturday at Triton Softball Field, using early offense and timely execution to take down Cal Poly, 5-1 and 10-8. The Tritons improved to 16-22 overall and 6-11 in Big West play after controlling game one and holding off a late push in game two.

GAME ONE: UC SAN DIEGO 5, CAL POLY 1
UC San Diego wasted little time seizing control, striking for three runs in the opening frame and never looking back. Haley Garcia set the tone with a leadoff single before Marley Espiau reached after being hit by a pitch, setting up Zara Wasserman's three-run blast to left that gave the Tritons an immediate cushion.

The home side tacked on two more in the third inning without the benefit of a hit. Espiau again reached via hit-by-pitch and eventually came around to score on a wild pitch, while Lily Hermosillo drew a bases-loaded walk to extend the lead to 5-0.

That was more than enough support for the pitching staff. Zoë Rutherford handled the bulk of the work in the circle, tossing five scoreless innings while allowing just four hits. Bella Settembro and Lauren Rozell combined to finish things off, with Cal Poly's lone run coming in the sixth on an RBI single by Maya Venegas.

Wasserman paced the offense with three RBIs and two runs scored, while Espiau crossed the plate twice.

GAME TWO: UC SAN DIEGO 10, CAL POLY 8
The Tritons carried that momentum into game two, erupting for six runs in the first inning to build a lead they would need to withstand a late Mustang rally.

Garcia and Espiau once again ignited the offense at the top of the order, setting up early traffic on the bases. Wasserman delivered in the clutch with a two-run double to left-center, and Tori Hinostro followed with an RBI single. UC San Diego continued to apply pressure as a throwing error allowed another run to score, and an RBI groundout from Garcia capped the six-run surge.

UC San Diego extended its advantage in the third inning with three more runs. Ryanna Alano brought home a run on a bunt single, and Espiau added a key swing with a two-run homer to push the lead to 9-0.

Cal Poly responded in the fourth inning with a big offensive push, highlighted by a three-run home run from Maya Venegas that helped spark a four-run frame. The Mustangs continued to chip away, adding three runs in the sixth and another in the seventh to close the gap to two.

Despite the late pressure, the Tritons answered at key moments, including a sacrifice fly from Espiau in the fifth that scored Garcia after her triple and provided valuable insurance. With the tying run looming late, UC San Diego's defense came through in the seventh, turning a game-ending double play to shut the door on the comeback attempt.

WOMACK PUTS IT AWAY WITH A DOUBLE PLAY!!

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— UC San Diego Softball (@UCSDsoftball) April 12, 2026

TRITON TIDBITS

• The Tritons extended their winning streak to four games, marking their longest stretch of consecutive wins in Big West play this season.
• Zara Wasserman tied her season high with two runs scored in a game.
• Zoë Rutherford and Callie Howard each earned a win in the circle, with both pitchers recording their fourth victory of the season.
• Marley Espiau and Haley Garcia have now scored in four straight games.
• Lauren Rozell took on closing duties in both games.
• UC San Diego has now scored five or more runs in four straight games. 

UP NEXT
UC San Diego will look to complete the series when it hosts Cal Poly again on Sunday, April 12, at 10 a.m. at Triton Softball Field.
 
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.