UCSD softball got off to a slow start this weekend, losing both games of its first doubleheader to Azusa Pacific 3-2 on Feb. 21, but returned to form, winning both games in its second doubleheader against CSU San Bernardino 3-1 and 10-5 respecitively on Feb 22.
The Tritons kept it close all along in the first game against Azusa, with each team scoring a run in the first inning. The Cougars added a run in the fourth, which UCSD answered with a run of its own in the sixth, bringing the score to 2-2 and keeping it there until the eighth inning. Azusa was able to score the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth, giving UCSD sophomore Keri Hanley the loss to put her record at 3-4 on the season. The Tritons committed two errors, resulting in two unearned runs.
“”The defense just broke down for us in both games,”” said UCSD head coach Patti Gerckens. “”When you lose, defense is the reason; defense wins and loses games for you. We didn’t play poorly, they just capitalized on our mistakes.””
The offense was there for UCSD, however, provided in part by junior Amy Mettee, who went 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI, as well as junior Kim Aggabao, who went 2-for-4. Sophomore Mieko McCue and freshman Jenny Spencer added an RBI and a run, respectively.
The second game for the Tritons netted the same results: a 3-2 defeat. Both UCSD and Azusa scored two runs in the fifth, but the Cougars crossed the plate once more in the seventh, giving the loss to freshman Stephanie Kurz in her first start of the season.
The Tritons offense came in one fell swoop when senior Kristin Hunstad’s triple scored Mettee and McCue in the fifth inning. UCSD continued to leave runners on base, though, stranding 12 runners in the course of the doubleheader.
However, the Tritons were able to turn it all around on Feb. 22 against San Bernardino, starting with a 3-1 victory behind Kurz’s first win of the year. The Coyotes took an early lead in the second inning, but UCSD was able to come back in the fifth and take the lead and the win.
“”Stephanie has defiantly made her way into the pitching rotation,”” Gerckens said. “”She pitched awesome this weekend, and it’s really exciting to know we can add her to our pitching staff.””
The offense exploded for the Tritons in the second game when they scored 10 runs, seven of which came in the second inning. Mettee and Aggabao continued to perform strong at the plate with Mettee hitting an RBI triple and later scoring, while Aggabao netted three RBIs on the series.
“”We came from behind in both games [against San Bernardino] to get the win, and I think that says a lot,”” Gerckens said.
With these wins, UCSD improves its overall record to 9-6 and its California Collegiate Athletic Association record to 5-3, putting the Tritons in a tie for third place with CSU Dominguez Hills and CSU Bakersfield.
On Feb. 28, UCSD will host Chico State, which went to the regional playoffs last year, and on March 1, the Tritons will host first-place UC Davis.
