UC San Diego

SAN DIEGO — UC San Diego defeated CSU Bakersfield 10-2 in six innings on Friday at SDSU Softball Stadium, securing a run-rule victory behind a dominant offensive performance. The Tritons tallied 14 hits, including a home run, while limiting CSU Bakersfield to nine hits.

HOW IT HAPPENED
CSU Bakersfield took an early lead in the first inning with an RBI single. UC San Diego quickly responded in the bottom half, capitalizing on a fielding error before Zara Wasserman drove in Haley Garcia with an RBI double. Gianna Ioja followed with an RBI single, helping the Tritons produce a three-run inning and take control.

The Tritons added to their lead in the third inning with RBI singles from Lily Hermosillo and Tori Hinostro, continuing to build momentum at the plate.

UC San Diego broke the game open in the sixth inning. Marley Espiau drew a walk, setting up Maalia Cherry's two-run home run, her 14th of the season. The rally continued with contributions from Wasserman and Callie Christian, as the Tritons pushed across four runs in the inning to extend the lead to 10-2 and secure the run-rule victory.

TRITON TIDBITS

• Zara Wasserman recorded four hits, including two doubles, scored three runs, and drove in two
• Maalia Cherry tallied two hits, including her 14th home run, with two RBIs, two runs scored, and her first stolen base of the season
• Lily Hermosillo finished with two hits and two RBIs
• Marley Espiau scored three runs and added a stolen base
• Callie Howard earned the win, tossing five innings while allowing one earned run on eight hits
• Bella Settembro pitched a scoreless inning in relief with one strikeout

UP NEXT
UC San Diego continues its series against CSU Bakersfield on Saturday at SDSU Softball Stadium with a doubleheader scheduled for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The two games mark the final contests of the regular season, as the Tritons look to secure their spot in the conference tournament.

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.