After stealing three of four from No. 25 San Francisco State University, the UCSD softball team was hoping to continue its streak into the Schutt Sports Division II Leadoff Classic Feb. 15 through Feb. 17, but instead found mixed results.

With cold bats as the diagnosis for their game-one loss to Southeast Oklahoma State University, 0-4, and game-two debacle against Dixie State College of Utah, 1-5, on Feb. 15, the Tritons were looking for anything to turn things around heading into an exhausting three-game day on Feb. 16.

Sophomore left-hander Melissa Ward, who pitched the opening game against Southeast Oklahoma State, explained what the team did to recover after a deflating day one.

“”We just took it as learning from our mistakes and moving forward,”” Ward said. “”We went home just wanting to get back out and take out our aggression on the next day’s teams.””

Day two brought more success as UCSD triumphed over Western Oregon University 3-1, Texas Woman’s University 5-2 and Cal State Monterey Bay 7-3.

“”I think we were more aggressive on the second day,”” head coach Patti Gerckens said. “”On day one we were too complacent. Our bats were not working at all and it was very disappointing. So we had to cut back and change the game plan, which we did.””

In the morning opener, Western Oregon University took an early 1-0 lead before UCSD responded with one run in the bottom of the second and two more the next inning. It was a pitcher’s duel the rest of the way with Ward fueling the Tritons to their 3-1 victory.

Ward allowed only the one run on seven hits while striking out four at the same time as junior third baseman Jenny Maze fired up the Triton offense going 3-for-3 with an RBI.

Going down early, Ward admitted it’s never easy to rebound, but she tried to readjust her focus for the rest of the game.

“”I just say to myself, ‘They scored already but it’s not going to happen again’ and just grind it out,”” she said.

With the first win under their belt, the Tritons created some momentum downing Texas Woman’s University 5-2 behind the complete game by sophomore right-hander Lauren Chastain.

Tied 1-1 after the first inning, UCSD took its first lead in the bottom of the fifth, but the Pioneers rebounded, knotting the game at 2-2 in the top of the sixth. Both teams went scoreless in their next at bats and with the final three outs, the Tritons made it happen.

“”We had not played to our potential,”” Gerckens said. “”Our bats had cooled off and we sometimes wait until the end of the game to get really aggressive. I was hoping to score well before the seventh inning, but they came through in the seventh and it was great to win.””

After such an emotional win, it would be difficult for most teams to refocus for another game, but UCSD had no problem downing fellow California Collegiate Athletic Association foe Cal State Monterey Bay 7-3.

Ward returned to the mound for the Tritons and pitched her eighth complete game in her eighth start of the season — an impressive mark, according to Gerckens.

“”She’s been a rock,”” Gerckens said. “”The games that she has lost, its because she has gotten absolutely no offense. There has not been one game that she has pitched poorly in. On the first day of the tournament she took a line drive off her face and she continued to pitch.””

The Tritons struck first after three scoreless innings, scoring two in the top of the fourth. The Otters responded with two in the bottom half of the inning, but a four-run UCSD onslaught in the top half of the sixth proved too much.

An insurance run in the seventh for the Tritons capped a perfect 3-0 day. Senior second baseman Dallas Hernandez led the UCSD offense with a 4-for-4 performance that included two runs scored, two RBIs and a stolen base.

“”We came back tired but full of confidence after taking all three,”” Ward said.

Riding their newfound confidence into the semifinals of the silver bracket, the Tritons met a stout University of Hawaii at Hilo team battling for a spot in the finals.

UCSD jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third inning, but that would be it for the Triton bats as University of Hawaii at Hilo racked up six runs over the next four innings, taking home the 6-2 victory.

The squad will resume CCAA play next week traveling to Sonoma State for a four-game series Feb. 23 and 24.