The UCSD softball team won three of its six games in the Easton Tournament of Champions, hosted by CSU Stanislaus, held in Modesto, Calif., from April 4 to April 6.
The tournament start was a rocky one for the Tritons, whose first game pitted them against Western New Mexico, which scored one run in the third, and held on for a 1-0 victory. Despite only giving up one run in six innings of work, freshman Stephanie Kurz received the loss, bringing her record to 5-4 on the season.
UCSD was only able to put together three hits during the game, coming from Amy Mettee, Jamie Hurst and Kim Aggabao.
The Triton’s second game on April 4 was against Hawaii Pacific, and resulted in a 7-5 victory for UCSD. Jodie Bland started the game, but came away with a no-decision, while Kurz received the win for her three innings of work, putting her record at 6-4.
Bland helped her own cause with two hits and an RBI, while Hurst added three RBIs as well. Desiree Franciscus had a hit and an RBI, as well as two runs, and Breanne Cope scored twice.
The second day of the tournament, started with another loss for UCSD, this time a 3-1 defeat from Western Oregon. Starter Keri Hanley pitched all six innings for the Tritons, and suffered the loss, making her record 5-8.
The bats weren’t there for UCSD as they were only able to get three hits again, this time two coming from Mettee, who also scored the team’s only run. Franciscus provided the third hit, while Bland received the lone RBI.
The second game of the day brought the Tritons their second victory in the form of a 7-2 defeat of Central Washington. Kurz threw seven innings of two-run ball for UCSD and brought her record up to 7-4 with the win.
At the plate, Mettee went 4-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, while Bland added an RBI and a run, going 2-for-3. Aggabao also added a run and an RBI.
Breaking the trend, the Tritons started off April 6 with a win by besting Hawaii Hilo 1-0 in eight innings. Kurz once again took the mound, throwing all eight innings, with the win improving her record to 8-4.
While UCSD only managed two hits, one from Mettee and the other from Kristen Hunstad, who also had the game’s lone RBI, it was enough. The only run of the game was scored by Aggabao.
The final game on April 6, as well as the tournament, resulted in a 4-1 UCSD defeat at the hands of Western Washington. Bland and Hanley combined for seven innings of work, but Hanley received the loss, bringing her record to 5-9 on the season.
The Tritons managed to produce eight hits against Western Washington, two apiece from Mettee, Hurst and Hunstad, but the runs didn’t follow. Mettee scored UCSD’s only run, while Hurst knocked in the only RBI.
The next game for the Tritons will be on April 10, a make-up game from a rain delay early on in the season against Point Loma Nazarene. UCSD’s record overall sits at 18-19.