No. 13 Tritons Put Together Comeback Win in Game One, But Fall in Game Two's Pitcher's Duel

Photo by: Derrick Tuskan

LA JOLLA, Calif. – The No. 13 University of California San Diego softball team split today’s doubleheader with San Francisco State, ultimately splitting the series. The Tritons move to 18-6 on the season and 16-5 in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play with the result, while the Gators move to 13-10 overall and an even 10-10 in conference action.

Game Three: UC San Diego 7, SF State 6
The Tritons grabbed an early lead in game three. Leadoff hitter Keila Bosinger was hit by a pitch, and moved into scoring position on a bunt single by Danica Kazakoff. Back-to-back singles by Sherriah Harrington and Clarissa Reynoso brought Bosinger and Kazakoff home later in the inning, giving the Triton a 2-0 advantage.

It was a similar story in the third inning, as Maddy Lewis was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. A groundout allowed Lewis to reach second, and she came around to score on another single by Reynoso.

The Gators grabbed a 6-3 lead in the fifth, but the Tritons fought back in the bottom half of the inning. Back-to-back singles and a Gator error loaded the bases. With two outs, the scoring began. The SF State pitcher struggled with control, hitting Reyes with a pitch and walking Bosinger to shrink the deficit.

Kazakoff, the next batter, regained the lead for the Tritons. When the junior stroked a single to center field, Reyes and Danielle Stedman crossed home plate to give UC San Diego a 7-6 advantage.
Dominique Acosta protected the Tritons’ lead for the remainder of the contest, helping the Tritons to a 7-6 victory. Acosta was the winning pitcher, tossing 2.1 innings without allowing an earned run.

Game Four: SF State 3, UC San Diego 1
It was a pitcher’s duel in game four, with the Tritons’ lone run coming in the fourth. Kazakoff drew a walk to start the inning, and Lewis bunted her into scoring position. The next batter, Harrington, smacked a single to center field to send Kazakoff home.

Robyn Wampler pitched a complete game, only allowing two earned runs and three hits across seven innings. After three innings of work, Wampler held the Gators hitless the rest of the way. The sophomore gave up just one walk while striking out three SF State batters, but the Triton bats were unable to provide the run support she needed.

Up Next
Next, UC San Diego will battle No. 5 Chico State in a crucial conference series on the road. The Tritons will face the Wildcats starting with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on March 24 and continuing with another doubleheader slated for 11 a.m. on March 25.

About UC San Diego Athletics
With 30 national team championships, nearly 150 individual titles and the top student-athlete graduation rate among Division II institutions in the United States, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program annually ranks as one of the most successful in the country.  The Tritons sponsor 23 intercollegiate sport programs that compete on the NCAA Division I and II levels and, in summer 2020, will transition into full Division I status as a member of the Big West Conference.  UC San Diego student-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent.  A total of 80 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 36 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships.  In competition, more than 1,300 UC San Diego student-athletes have earned All-America honors.