UCSD won a pitcher's duel, 1-0, in the day's opener and exploded offensively for a 12-0 run rule victory in the nightcap. The Tritons improved to 14-10 overall and 10-4 in the CCAA, while the Pioneers dropped to 6-14 and 4-10. UC San Diego has now won five straight. 

Alexis Edwards (1-1) tossed a complete game two-hitter in game one, striking out seven and walking two. She retired the side in order in the first, third, fifth and six innings and didn't allow a hit until the fourth.

At the plate, three Tritons accounted for the team's six hits with Emily McQuaid, Mya Romero and Nicole Spangler each collecting two apiece. McQuaid had a triple while Romero doubled.

The lone run of the game came in the UCSD half of the third. McQuaid led off with a double to center and was sacrificed to third by Taylor Sepulveda. McQuaid came in to score on a sacrifice fly ball to center by Amani Proctor.

East Bay threatened in the fourth as Chelsea Kakela singled back up the middle with one out. Sara Holdridge then drew a walk, but UCSD erased any chance of damage by turning an inning-ending double play.

The Pioneers put a runner in scoring position again in the bottom of the seventh. Kakela had a lead off single and pinch runner Mandy Dale advanced to second on a sacrifice. However, Edwards struck out her seventh batter of the day and then induced a game-ending ground out to third.

McQuaid stole back-to-back bases in the second inning, but was left stranded at third. McQuaid was again left at third in the seventh after ripping a two-out triple to right field.

Lauren Zweigle (5-8) also threw a complete game in the circle, striking out two and walking none.

The action started quickly in game two as the Tritons brought in three runs in the opening inning. Callie Grant singled to lead off the game and scored the eventual game-winning run when Caitlin Brown ripped a one-out home run. McQuaid had a two-out single that scored Katie Saunders, who had reached on a fielder's choice, putting the Tritons up 3-0.

UCSD broke the game wide open in the fourth inning with six runs. Brown continued her power hitting by stroking another two-run home run, her team-leading fourth of the season. Maria Sykes, Dyanna Imoto, Romero and Grant all had an RBI in the inning.

In the fifth, a double by Imoto scored another two runs and Monique Portugal drove in the final run of the game for UCSD with a pinch hit single to center.

CSUEB left at least one runner on base in every inning, including two in the third and fifth.

The Tritons finished with 13 hits, three of those coming off the bat of Sykes.

UCSD starter Jennifer Manuel earned the win as she gave up just three hits with two walks and one strikeout over four innings of work, extending her season record to 4-0.

Andi Andersen (1-4) suffered the loss, giving up nine runs (six earned) on nine hits through 3.2 innings.

The Tritons and Pioneers close out the series on Saturday, March 9, with doubleheader action beginning at 11 a.m. in Hayward.

-- UCSDtritons.com --