CARSON, Calif. - The UC San Diego softball team split the opening doubleheader of a four-game set at No. 20 Cal State Dominguez Hills Friday in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play at Toro Diamond.

CSUDH was able to snap a two-game losing streak by taking game one, 2-1, while UCSD came back to take game two, 6-1.

The Tritons now hold a 16-12 overall record and are 12-7 in the CCAA, while the Toros sit at 16-8 and 8-6 in league play.

In the second game, UCSD led 3-1 after five innings and put it out of reach with three more runs in the top of the sixth.

Caitlin Brown, Mya Romero, Taylor Sepulveda and Kirsten Willmon all had two hits each for UCSD, which totaled 10 in the game. Callie Grant and Brown had two RBI, while Sepulveda and Willmon each added one.

Jennifer Manuel (5-0) pitched the complete seven innings, scattering six hits while striking out two and walking none. She retired the side in order in the first, fifth and sixth innings.

UCSD scored single runs in the first, fourth and fifth innings. The opening run was unearned as Grant led off by reaching on an error by the Toros' outfield. She was sacrificed to second and came in to score on a single by Brown.

CSUDH tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the third. A lead-off double by Kaci McGinnis put the Toros in scoring position early. A sac bunt advanced McGinnis to third and she was knocked in by a single from Adrian Sanchez.

The Tritons regained the lead in the fourth when Romero, who had reached on a fielder's choice, was plated by Sepulveda's two-out single to right.

Brown's RBI single in the fifth would give the Tritons some breathing room. It was another unearned run as Emily McQuaid reached on an error with two outs, stole second and scored on Brown's hit.  

UCSD sealed the win in the sixth inning. Willmon drove in one run while a two-out triple to left-center field by Grant scored the final two runs of the game.

Stephanie Jimenez (9-3) suffered the loss for the Toros, tossing six innings, striking out two and walking one.

In game one, Alexis Edwards (1-2) pitched a complete game, her second full stint in her last three appearances. She gave up five hits and three walks.

Brown led UCSD at the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. The Tritons totaled five hits in the game.

The Toros went up 1-0 in the bottom of the third. They scored the eventual game-winning run on a solo home run to right-center by Alys Cruz-Fernandez.

UCSD got a run back in the sixth. Grant led off with an infield single and took second on a sacrifice bunt by McQuaid. Brown singled to left, picking up her first of three RBIs on the day.

Lauren Harper (7-5) also threw a complete game in the circle for Dominguez Hills, giving up five hits and striking out five Tritons.

UCSD and CSUDH close out the series on Saturday, March 16, with doubleheader action beginning at noon in Carson.

-- UCSDtritons.com --