SAN DIEGO — UC San Diego delivered a strong all-around performance on Saturday, sweeping a doubleheader against CSU Bakersfield at SDSU Softball Stadium with a 7-4 victory in game one and a 7-2 win in game two. With the pair of wins, the Tritons improved to 23-26 overall and 12-15 in Big West play, while also clinching the No. 6 seed in the upcoming Big West Championship.
GAME ONE: UC SAN DIEGO 7, CSU BAKERSFIELD 4
UC San Diego used timely hitting and a key middle-inning surge to overcome an early deficit and take the opener.
CSU Bakersfield struck first with a three-run opening inning, highlighted by a two-RBI single and an RBI double to jump ahead 3-0.
The Tritons answered immediately.
Maalia Cherry got UC San Diego on the board with a solo home run to left in the bottom of the first, her 15th of the season. In the second inning,
Tori Hinostro drove in
Samantha Womack with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 3-2.
UC San Diego took control in the third inning with a five-run rally.
Haley Garcia scored on
Zara Wasserman's sacrifice bunt to tie the game, before
Lily Hermosillo delivered an RBI double to give the Tritons their first lead at 4-3.
Jackie Tremper followed with a clutch two-RBI double, bringing home Wasserman and Hermosillo to extend the lead to 6-3.
CSU Bakersfield scratched across a run in the fourth on a fielder's choice to make it 6-4, but that would be the last damage against the Tritons' pitching staff.
UC San Diego added an insurance run in the sixth inning when Womack doubled and later scored on Garcia's RBI single, pushing the lead to 7-4.
GAME TWO: UC SAN DIEGO 7, CSU BAKERSFIELD 2
The Tritons carried their momentum into game two, using an explosive first inning to secure the sweep.
UC San Diego erupted for five runs in the opening frame. Garcia drew a walk to start things off, and after traffic built on the bases,
Dylan Kunkle delivered the biggest swing of the day, a grand slam to left center, marking her first career grand slam and putting the Tritons ahead 5-0.
The offense stayed aggressive in the second inning. Garcia singled and stole second before Cherry drove her in with an RBI single. Wasserman followed with another RBI knock to push the lead to 7-0.
CSU Bakersfield managed runs in the third and seventh innings, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome.
TRITON TIDBITS
- UC San Diego clinched the No. 6 seed in the Big West Championship with the doubleheader sweep.
- Maalia Cherry hit her 15th home run of the season in game one.
- Dylan Kunkle recorded her first career grand slam in game two.
- Haley Garcia totaled four hits, three runs scored, and a stolen base across the two games.
UP NEXT
UC San Diego heads to Fullerton for the Big West Softball Championship, opening postseason play on Wednesday, May 6 at 4:00 p.m. against UC Santa Barbara. The tournament will be held at Cal State Fullerton, as the Tritons enter as the No. 6 seed with their sights set on a postseason run.Â
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.Â
