LA JOLLA, Calif. – Opening Big West Conference play at home, the Tritons split the doubleheader with UC Santa Barbara. UC San Diego battled back to win game one 4-3 after being down for five innings. The Gauchos came back in game two to shutout the Tritons 5-0.
 
Getting the start in the circle in game one, Jada Cecil allowed two runs on seven hits with four walks and six strikeouts. The sophomore forced five flyouts. Coming in as relief, Gabby Williams gave up a single run on three hits with three walks and four strikeouts to earn the win. The Triton defense forced 17 runners to be left on by UCSB. At the plate, Keila Bosinger led the Tritons going 2-for-3 with two batted in. Adding support was Sophia Real who went 2-for-4 with a run batted in. Deena Pederson scored two with Morgan Eng and Bobbi Aguirre each scoring one.
 
After finishing game one, Gabby Williams started in the circle in game two for the gold and blue. The lefty allowed three runs on eight hits with four walks and one strikeout. Kaia Simpson came on as relief for Williams in the fifth. The right-hander allowed two runs on no hits with three walks and one strikeout. Simpson forced five ground outs in her two innings of work. Shelby Thompson finished the game in the circle. The junior shutout the Gauchos facing three batters and forcing two ground outs with a caught stealing from a fielding error. At the plate, Deena Pederson went two-for-three along with Marissa Hassis who went 2-for-2. The Triton offense struggled as they left seven runners on base in the shutout.

UC SAN DIEGO 4, UC SANTA BARBARA 3
The Gauchos got out to an early lead, shutting the Tritons out until a fifth inning rally. Morgan Eng started the rally with a bunt single to speed her way to first. Deena Pederson then advanced Eng to second with a single laced up the middle. Reaching on a Gaucho error, Bobbi Aguirre advanced Pederson and brought Eng in to score, 1-2. The second out came for the Tritons, but Clarissa Reynoso was walked by the UCSB pitching staff to advance Pederson and Aguirre. With runners on third and second, Keila Bosinger roped a stand-up double to plate Pederson and Aguirre, taking the lead at 3-2.
 
The Gauchos tied it up in the top of the seventh, but the Tritons battled it out in the bottom. Capitalizing on a Gaucho error, Pederson became the go-ahead run. She proceeded to steal second with Aguirre in the batter's box. A sac-fly from the first baseman advanced Pederson to third. Sophia Real then laced a single down the left field line to bring Pederson the final 60 feet home and win the game.
 

Tritons take ???????? ??!#GoTritons ?? pic.twitter.com/8g5wofPaFr

— UC San Diego Softball (@UCSDsoftball) March 26, 2023

 
UC SANTA BARBARA 5, UC SAN DIEGO 0
The Gauchos came back in game two putting runs up in the first, third, fifth, and sixth inning. UC San Diego threatened in the first, third, fourth, and seventh innings, but were unable to convert.
 
Deena Pederson cracked two long doubles in the first and third innings but was left stranded by the gold and blue both times.
 
In the fourth inning, facing two outs, Teagan Dobson was walked by the Gauchos' pitching staff and then made it to third on a single from Marissa Hassis. The final out came before Dobson could make it the final 60 feet home.
 
Looking for a late rally, Clarissa Reynoso laced a single deep to the shortstop to become the lead runner. Pinch hitting and facing two outs, Mikaila Pancino was walked by UCSB, advancing Reynoso into scoring position. Both runners were left stranded as the Gauchos took game two.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• Morgan Eng went 2-for-4 with a run scored and two stolen bases.
• Keila Bosinger went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
• Sophia Real went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
• Jada Cecil fanned six Gauchos in game one with Gabby Williams fanning another four.
• Deena Pederson is on a four-game hitting streak with three hits today, two of which were stand-up doubles.
• In her single inning of work, Shelby Thompson shut UCSB out.
• Morgan Eng continues to lead the Big West with 22 stolen bases.
• UC San Diego leads the series vs. UC Santa Barbara, 7-2.

UP NEXT
UC San Diego will finish the three-game series vs. UC Santa Barbara tomorrow on March 27 with a single game at 12:00 pm. The game will be live on ESPN+ with live stats available on ucsdtritons.com.

About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of The Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.