March 4 (Game 1)
UC San Diego 6, Humboldt State 2
Kris Lesovsky launched a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth to break a 2-2 tie, and the Tritons used another strong start from Camille Gaito (10-0) to take the first game of a four-game series with Humboldt.
Gaito gave up a leadoff home run to start the game, and gave up an RBI single in the second inning. But Gaito only allowed three hits and no runs after that, and the Tritons tied the score in their half of the second with an RBI single from Taylor Sepulveda and an illegal pitch with the bases loaded. The next batter, Mya Romero, struck out swinging to end the inning with the bases still juiced. The Tritons left 14 runners on base in the game.
Lesovsky was one-for-one with the home run, but drew four walks and scored twice. Her homer was the 21st in her career, second-most in school history.
March 4 (Game 2)
Humboldt State 9, UC San Diego 4
Tess Granath had a rough start, giving up seven runs in 1.2 innings as Humboldt ended the Tritons’ seven-game winning streak.
Granath gave up four runs on four hits in the first, then three runs on four hits in the second before being taken out for Jennifer Manuel. Manuel gave up two runs the rest of the way, but the Tritons couldn’t dig themselves out of the early hole.
March 5 (Game 1)
UC San Diego 12, Humboldt State 2
Seven different Tritons had RBI as UCSD won the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader after five innings via the mercy rule.
Nicole Spangler was 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI, Jennifer De Fazio, Sarah Woofter and Rhiannon Ousley each had two RBI as the Triton offense exploded for 12 runs on 15 hits.
Lumberjack pitcher Vaneza Hoover gave up 10 runs in three innings to take the loss.
Gaito (11-0) pitched all five innings and allowed two runs to pick up the win.
March 5 (Game 2)
UC San Diego 12,
Humboldt State 8
The Triton offense put up another 12 runs in the second half of the Saturday doubleheader, but shaky pitching almost allowed the Lumberjacks back in the game.
The Tritons posted the first three runs of the game in the bottom of the second, but the Lumberjacks answered with three of their own in the top of the third. Triton starter Jennifer Manuel couldn’t make it through the inning, finishing her day with a line of five hits and three runs allowed on 2.2 innings pitched. Tess Granath came in to relieve her.
The Tritons came right back with five runs in their half of the fifth, but a grand slam by Felicia Viveiros tied the game 8-8. Despite having pitched the morning game, Gaito (12-0) entered as a reliever to settle things down, and didn’t allow a hit in 1.2 innings to finish the game.
UCSD put up four runs in the bottom of the sixth, with two RBI apiece from Nicole Spangler and Charly Swanberg.
The Tritons are now 19-3 overall and 13-2 in the CCAA, and remain first place in the conference. The team will be on the road for the next five weeks, starting with a series against Cal State Dominguez Hills beginning on March 11.
