Game 1
The Tritons cruised to take the first game of the series 7-1.
Senior pitcher Camile Gaito allowed just one run in her six innings pitched, while also recording six strikeouts in the campaign.
UCSD struck early, with power hitter, sophomore catcher Charly Swanberg recording a double to left center, batting in junior Jennifer Manuel.
Up 1-0, the Tritons extended their lead in the bottom of the second by capitalizing on two Chico errors to go up 3-0.
Chico’s one run of the game came in the sixth inning, but the Tritons cemented the win in their next at-bat, as senior outfielder Kris Lesovsky found her way onto third base and was batted home by designated hitter Manuel.
GAME 2
The Tritons struggled in the second game, as Manuel split time with freshman pitchers Kayla Hensel and Michelle Escamilla on the mound.
Manuel kept the Wildcats scoreless through the first three innings, although Chico’s Jessica McDermott had a considerably better game than the Wildcats’ first pitcher.
McDermott went the distance, allowing just one run on three hits for seven innings.
The two teams remained tied until the fifth inning.
With two players on base, Chico’s Jackie Munoz batted in Cassidy Olson.
The Wildcats extended the lead, scoring on an error made by Triton shortstop Mya Romero.
Chico went up 3-0 at the top of the sixth inning, with a solo homerun from Sam Quadt.
The Tritons’ only run came in the bottom of the seventh, but it wasn’t enough to push extra innings.
“We needed to play our game, and not really play down or to anyone else’s level,” said sophomore catcher Caitlin Brown. “I think the bats will come around [Gerckens] just kind of thought that we needed to make some adjustments earlier.”
GAME 3
Chico’s Sam Baker kept the Tritons without a run in the third game of the series.
UCSD recorded only three hits in the campaign to the Wildcats’ nine.
Chico collected their first run in the third inning off of a double by Bianca Lopez.
And in the seventh inning, Chico doubled their lead after loading the bases with Chico’s Britt Wright recording one RBI.
GAME 4
The last game of the series was another low-scoring pitchers duel.
Both teams recorded six hits, but the Tritons’ one error in the first inning may have been the decider.
Weekend Analysis
The Tritons seem to still be looking to find their form, as they dropped their opening conference series against the only other nationally ranked team in the CCAA.
UCSD had a difficult time generating offense in their last three matches, although the Triton losses were all close.
“We’re going to try and take the same angle again and just focus on us and try and not worry about who we’re playing and just play our game,” sophomore catcher Caitlin Brown said.