UCSD competed in a two-game series with CSU Dominguez Hills on May 2, losing the first game by a score of 3-2 but coming back to take the second game in a 2-1 victory.
Guardian
Freshman starter Stephanie Kurz threw a complete game. But despite putting together a strong performance, she still ended up taking the loss, her 10th of the season, which put her record at 10-10.
“”Stephanie did a great job in the first game,”” said UCSD head coach Patti Gerckens. “”She just gave up one big hit.””
The Tritons were quick to put some runs on the board, scoring twice in the first inning with juniors Amy Mettee and Jodie Bland crossing the plate. Sophomore Jamie Hurst and freshman Desiree Franciscus knocked them in, and UCSD’s defense held the Toros scoreless for three innings.
In the fourth inning, Dominguez Hills’ Renee Snyder helped propel the Toros to their 3-2 lead and eventual win with a two-run triple.
“”We came out right away and got two runs in the first inning, which was great,”” Gerckens said. “”They just got a few runs in the fourth inning, and we couldn’t come back.””
In the second game against Dominguez Hills, Bland threw seven innings of one-run ball, and earned the win, her seventh of the season.
“”Jodie did awesome for us in the second game,”” Gerckens said.
Going into the bottom of the seventh, UCSD was losing 1-0, but with one out, junior Kim Aggabao and Franciscus both got base hits. Freshman Jennifer Leonard then came up to the plate and knocked both teammates in with a two-run walk-off double for the victory.
“”We had a great finish to the second game, it was really exciting. It was great how they didn’t give up. It was just a lot of fun,”” Gerckens said.
On May 4, UCSD finished their season at home against 13th-ranked CSU Bakersfield, losing both games of a Sunday doubleheader.
The Roadrunners got off to a quick start, scoring three times in the top of the first inning off UCSD pitcher Stephanie Kurz en route to an 11-3 victory. The Tritons tried to hang with the ‘Runners with a run in the first inning and two in the second, but the visitors had two-run innings in both the second and third frame to pull away.
First baseman Jamie Hurst led the Tritons in the game, going 2-3 with a double.
Roadrunners’ first baseman Amber Mills put the game out of reach when she crushed a three-run home run in the sixth inning, her ninth of the season.
In the second half of the twin-bill, the visiting Roadrunners again jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, scoring two runs in the top of the first and pulling ahead for a 6-2 win.
Hurst again led the Tritons, going 1-3 with an RBI against CSU Bakersfield freshman pitcher Christie Hill, who pitched a complete game giving up only three hits and one earned run.
With the losses, the Tritons finish their season with a record of 24-32 overall, 13-19 in conference.
