RIVERSIDE, Calif. — UC San Diego's offense exploded for 12 runs as the Tritons secured a decisive 12–4 five inning victory over UC Riverside on Friday in game two of a doubleheader. UC San Diego (13-23 overall, 3-11 Big West) was bolstered by a strong offensive effort that included 13 hits and a home run. The visiting team capitalized on UC Riverside's three errors and stole four bases.
The Highlanders (5-24, 3-12) took game one by a 9-1 score.
GAME ONE: UC RIVERSIDE 9, UC SAN DIEGO 1
UC Riverside's early offensive burst in the first inning set the stage for its victory, highlighted by a two-run homer from Eta Lauti and a two-RBI double by Arianna Saldivar. These key hits gave the Highlanders a commanding 4-0 lead that the Tritons could not overcome.
UC San Diego found its rhythm in the fifth inning when
Tori Hinostro, who pinch-hit for
Ryanna Alano, singled to center field, followed by an error that allowed Arbuckle to reach base. The Tritons loaded the bases, but a double play curtailed the potential rally.
In the sixth inning, UC Riverside sealed the win with a three-run inning, capped by Mariana Palazuelos's two-RBI double. Despite the Tritons' efforts to capitalize on opportunities, including Wasserman's productive hitting, their inability to sustain momentum cost them a chance to close the gap.
GAME TWO: UC SAN DIEGO 12, UC RIVERSIDE 4
UC San Diego secured a decisive victory with a series of key plays beginning in the first inning. The team capitalized on early opportunities, as
Haley Garcia singled and was soon followed by
Zara Wasserman's RBI single that jumpstarted a four-run inning.
Gianna Ioja contributed with a two-run scoring single, and
Tori Hinostro's fly-out allowed Ioja to score.
UCR answered with two runs in the bottom of the first, but the Tritons came right back with a three-run second. With two runners aboard, designated player
Maalia Cherry launched a three-run homer deep beyond the wall in left field – her eighth long ball of the season – to give UC San Diego a 7-2 advantage.
In the fifth inning, the Tritons pulled away with three more runs. Garcia reached base on an error, advancing to second, and scored on Espiau's sacrifice fly.
Tyla Arbuckle added to the pressure with a strategic bunt that allowed Hinostro to score. Although the Highlanders managed to score a run in the bottom of the fifth, the Tritons' consistent early scoring proved too much to overcome.
Garcia led the Tritons with four runs and three hits, contributing two RBIs and one stolen base. Cherry added a home run and three RBIs, helping the Tritons maintain their offensive pressure. Arbuckle scored three runs and successfully stole two bases.
Lefty
Zoë Rutherford pitched a complete game for UC San Diego, delivering 5 innings with 99 pitches, 60 of which were strikes. She struck out three batters in the win.
TRITON TIDBITS
- The Tritons' 12-run outburst in game two marked a season high for runs scored in a game.
- UC San Diego scored ten or more runs in a game for the fourth time in 2026, and the first since Feb. 13.
- Maalia Cherry blasted her eighth homer of the season, tops in The Big West.
- Zoë Rutherford pitched her second complete game, tying her with Callie Howard for the team high.
- The game two victory was the Tritons' first true road win of the season.
UP NEXT
UC San Diego and UC Riverside wrap up their three-game set with the rubber game on Saturday afternoon. The Tritons and Highlanders square off in a 1 p.m. contest in Riverside with the action shown live on ESPN+ with 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 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.
