UCSD began California Collegiate Athletic Association play this week, splitting a doubleheader with Cal State Bakersfield on Feb. 6 and sweeping a pair against Cal State Stanislaus on Feb. 7.
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The Tritons jumped out to a one-run lead in the first game against the Roadrunners when sophomore second baseman Desiree Franciscus broke up a pitchers’ duel by crushing her first career home run in the fifth inning. Cal State Bakersfield quickly regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth, however, when they hit up freshman pitcher Tina Rowe for two runs.
UCSD was not behind for long, however, when it launched a sixth-inning two-out rally that produced seven runs. Franciscus grabbed a single to score freshman pinch runner Dallas Hernandez, the first run of the inning, tying up the game at two. Senior first baseman Jodie Bland had the final hit of the inning to score freshman designated player Melanie Meurer, bringing the game to its final score, 8-2.
“”The team came out strong this weekend, we worked together, and have started off our season great,”” Franciscus said. “”It’s great how we pick each other up: I tried to pick up the team yesterday, and they picked me up today.””
Rowe once again reigned victorious, notching up her third win of the season and her third complete game of the season, while only giving up two runs on seven hits.
“”The first game was awesome,”” UCSD head coach Patti Gerckens said. “”We started off with a home run, and even when they got two, we came back and scored seven after that. It was a great game. We have worked on offense all year long, and the girls are finally seeing the fruits of their labor.””
The second game of the series against the Roadrunners saw the Tritons falling at the hands of a tough 4-2 defeat. Cal State Bakersfield grabbed a three-run lead in the top of the third that they never gave up, despite some strong pushes by UCSD.
“”We left seven runners on base, and just couldn’t get them home [and we had] a few crucial errors,”” Gerckens said.
Senior shortshop Kim Aggabao knocked a double to score junior leftfielder Breanne Cope in the bottom of the third inning. Aggabao went 2-4 with an RBIs for the game, one of two Tritons who had a multiple-hit night. Cope provided more offense in the bottom of the seventh, smashing a home run and going 3-3 with two runs and an RBIs on the night. But the Tritons were behind when time ran out.
“”Both Tina [Rowe] and Jodie [Bland] pitched very well today. In the second game they scored four runs, but only three were earned,”” Gerckens said. “”Both pitchers have been very strong, and they’re going the distance. Our whole pitcher/catcher battery is working well together.””
UCSD returned to its winning form on Feb. 7, soundly defeating Cal State Stanislaus, 9-1, in the first game.
The Tritons scored early and often, notching up a run in the bottom of the first and third, two in the bottom of the fourth and fifth and three in the sixth to put them over the eight-run limit rule. UCSD’s offense received a couple boosts in the arm from a pair of home runs by junior catcher Jamie Hurst and sophomore rightfielder Niki Anderson, her second of the season.
Rowe continued her streak of complete game victories, bringing her total up to four, and her record on the season to 4-0, giving up one run on three hits.
“”Tina has just been amazing; she is on fire,”” Gerckens said. “”I attribute the great pitching this year to coach Stan Hunt, he has really got them prepared for the season.””
The Tritons fared similarly well in the second game of the series, besting the Warriors, 7-1. UCSD jumped to an early lead in the first inning, scoring once, and then piled on six more runs in the bottom of the third. Cal State Stanislaus snagged one run in the fifth, but that was the extent of its offensive production.
Offensive highlights for the second game against the Warriors included junior catcher Jamie Hurst going 2-2 with a run and four RBIs, as well as senior third baseman Amy Mettee who went 2-4 with two runs and an RBIs. Aggabao added a run and an RBIs while going 2-4, and Cope tacked on a run while going 2-3.
“”I’m really impressed with how we’re playing as a team,”” Hurst said. “”It’s great watching younger players step up and the older kids do their jobs right.””
Bland hurled her second complete game, bringing her record up to 2-2 on the year, giving up one earned run on four hits.
“”We’ve been playing really well and with confidence, and we need to keep that,”” Gerckens said. “”It’s easy to play well when things are going well, but when times get tough we see what kind of team we really are.””
The Tritons return to action on Feb. 13 at Chico State.
