UCSD met Cal State University Bakersfield for a doubleheader filled with playoff implications Saturday at Triton Softball Field. The Tritons came into the day with a record of 20-10 in league, which placed them in a tie for second place with Bakersfield.
Needing a sweep to earn a postseason berth, UCSD was unable to come up with a victory in the first game and lost 3-4. In the second game, the Tritons easily disposed of the Roadrunners 4-0.
On a beautiful day, backed by a large crowd loud music and the raucous cheers of the UCSD pep band, the Tritons started off on the wrong foot in the first game as the first CSUB batter, Alicia Castro, doubled off Triton pitcher Leea Harlan. Castro later scored on an error. Errors would plague UCSD throughout the game.
In the top of the third, Bakersfield struck again, this time scoring three runs on two hits and another Triton error. Freshman Roadrunner Katie King supplied a key single during the rally to drive in two for CSUB.
However, UCSD battled back in the fifth, as freshman designated hitter Christina Strollo worked the Roadrunner pitcher to a full count, then drew a walk to lead off the inning. After right fielder Kim Vorsatz was unable to put down a sacrifice bunt, a wild pitch allowed Strollo to head to second and Vorsatz singled on the next pitch to move her to third.
Strollo scored with the help of freshman Amy Mettee, who hit a sacrifice fly to put the Tritons on the board. Taking advantage of Roadrunner pitcher Melanie Wood’s wildness (she had five walks and three wild pitches in the inning), the Tritons were able to push two more runs across to make the score 3-4.
Unfortunately, that would be UCSD’s last scoring opportunity. Wood found her control and faced the minimum over the next two innings to seal the victory for Bakersfield.
Triton head coach Patti Gerckens cited fielding as the difference between the two teams in the first game.
“”[We should have] made less errors. Had we done that, we would have taken both games,”” she said.
The second game of the doubleheader featured UCSD junior Christi Martinelli on the hill against CSUB sophomore Erin Kelly.
Unlike the first game, this time it was the Tritons who jumped in the lead first with three runs in the second inning. Christina Searing began the inning with a single to left, then later scored on a single by Angie Carr.
But the big blow was provided by Mettee, who tripled off the center field wall to score two more runs.
With Martinelli cruising through the Roadrunner lineup, this would be more than enough to win. Bakersfield wasn’t able to get a runner in scoring position until the fourth inning, and was unable to get a runner at third the whole game.
However, the Tritons weren’t finished, as Searing scored again in the bottom of the sixth on a single by Kim Vorsatz to push the lead to 4-0 and put the game out of reach.
“”We came out to win and we finished strong,”” Gerckens said. “”We played with a lot of pride.””
In Friday action, the Tritons split a pair of games with Cal State Dominguez Hills at home. They won the first 1-0, but lost the second 3-1.
For seniors Jeanine Cordero, Vorsatz, Searing and Michelle Wilson, the win over Bakersfield was most likely their last game as Tritons.
According to Gerckens, UCSD doesn’t have much of a chance to make postseason play, despite finishing with a stellar record of 21-11.
“”Our chances aren’t looking good at this point,”” she said. “”We needed to sweep Bakersfield.””
However, looking back on the season, Gerckens considers it a definite success.
“”It was a great way to begin competition in Division II,”” she said. “”This team set a standard for the future. I’m going to miss my seniors — their leadership is the reason we did so well this season.””