Utilizing the prodigious talents of its rookies, the UCSD softball team played four games in its opening week of the 2005 season, splitting both doubleheaders. A number of freshmen stood out despite the team’s early-season .500 record.
“The games have been really good team efforts, especially by the freshmen,” Triton head coach Patricia Gerckens said.
Game one on Feb. 5 against University of San Diego (1-2) was scoreless until the top of the fifth inning, when the Tritons (2-2) put together four singles and took a 2-0 lead. UCSD added two more runs in the seventh to finish the scoring at 4-0.
“Though the team played well, the hits didn’t come together,” Gerckens said.
The first round of the doubleheader also marked the second complete-game victory of the season for sophomore pitcher Tina Rowe, who allowed only four hits and struck out five in her seven innings of work.
“Rowe pitched a really good game,” Gerckens said.
With one run scored and three RBIs at the top of the lineup, junior Jenny Spencer, freshman Danielle Lukk and senior team captain Jamie Hurst went a combined 6-for-11.
The Torreros won the second game, 5-2. Senior hurler Kelley Bryant allowed three runs on six hits in three and one-third innings of work. Freshman Nicole Fullerton allowed two unearned runs on four hits in her two and two-thirds innings of relief. Junior shortstop Desiree Franciscus went 2-for-4 with the Tritons’ two RBIs in the game-two loss.
Spencer had a strong showing at the plate, adding two more hits in the second game, leaving her at 5-for-7.
Earlier in the week, the Tritons split a doubleheader with Point Loma on Feb. 1 at the Triton Softball Stadium. UCSD triumphed in the season opener with a 5-2 score before falling, 5-4, in the 11-inning nightcap.
“The [Tritons] played very well, and their scoring showed resilience on their part,” Gerckens said.
Rowe allowed only two runs on five hits and picked up the complete game victory in game one. In addition, Hurst and Lukk each had two RBIs in the victory.
Bryant threw five and two-thirds innings in her first start of the year for UCSD, allowing three runs on five hits. The top of the sixth inning saw all three of Bryant’s allowed runs.
Freshman Melissa Ward replaced Bryant, throwing the final five and one-third innings. Ward allowed two unearned runs on four hits. Franciscus went 4-for-5 with one run scored in the loss, while freshman Jenny Maze and sophomore Melanie Meurer drove in one run each.
“We had four chances to win, but it didn’t happen,” Gerckens said.
After two major games against formidable rivals, a number of team standouts have emerged, which bodes well for the remainder of the season.
Currently 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA, Rowe has thrown two complete games in which she struck out five and allowed only two runs.
Although Rowe permitted two runs in the season opener against Point Loma, she came back strong and struck out five in a momentous shutout of USD.
Spencer, UCSD’s lead-off hitter, is currently second-ranked on the team in terms of batting averages.
Over the course of the past four games, the centerfielder has gone 6-for-13 at the plate, including a 5-for-7 performance in the doubleheader at USD.
“Spencer has really stepped up her game early on,” Hurst said.
With four RBIs thus far, Lukk currently leads the UCSD squad, including robust performances against both Point Loma and USD.
“Lukk will contribute very significantly this season,” Hurst said.
Lukk, who went 2-for-3 with one run scored and two RBIs in the win over Point Loma, went 1-for-3 in the win over the Torreros, including a run scored and two RBIs.
The four games UCSD has played thus far indicate that the team consistently scores first. Between the two double headers, the Tritons scored eight of their 15 runs in the first three innings of the games.
The Tritons play in the ultra-competitive California Collegiate Athletic Association, widely considered to be the best Division II conference in the country.
“We are a young team and have been overlooked, so this will be good for our conference play,” Hurst said.
The Tritons were slated to compete at the Grand Canyon University Tournament in Phoenix, Ariz., scheduled from Feb. 11 to Feb. 13, but the event was canceled due to inclement weather.
The Tritons will begin CCAA play on Feb. 18 at Cal State Bakersfield.
