LA JOLLA, Calif. – After an hour rain delay, UC San Diego (5-4) fell to Long Beach State (8-2) on Friday afternoon in 12-0 five-inning loss at Triton Softball Stadium.
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India Caldwell took the circle first, pitching three innings in an eight hit, seven run, and one out showing. Shelby Thompson came in during the fourth inning, conceding four hits and five runs against seven batters.
Claire Adams stepped in to close out the inning, going on to finish the shortened game without giving up a hit or walk. Â
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With only four hits tallied in the shutout, Jackie Tremper tallied her first collegiate hit when she put down a bunt in the bottom of the fourth to advance the lead off runner and get herself on base.
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HOW IT HAPPENEDÂ
In the first two innings of the game, India Caldwell turned the innings over when she fielded her position for the final out. Long Beach State struck early with a single run in the top of the second inning.
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Lexi O'Gorman started the game off with a hard-hit single to the Beach pitcher for the Tritons' first hit of the series in the first. O'Gorman was stranded as the next two Tritons fell. It was much of the same in the bottom of the second for the gold and blue as Alexa DeMarse knocked a hit at the second baseman to become the lead off runner.
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Despite the Tritons turning a double play in the second at-bat, LBSU added three more in the third, 4-0. Threatening for the first time in the bottom of the third, Marissa Hassis was able to reach second after lacing a single through the right side and then advancing on a groundout by Morgan Eng. Hassis was left stranded as the Tritons fell 1-2-3 after her lead off hit.
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Tragedy struck in the fourth when Long Beach busted open the game and hung eight runs on the board in the top, 12-0. After a five-position lineup change, Kayleigh Coberly battled a nine-pitch at bat to win the walk. Jackie Tremper stepped into the box with two outs on the board and tallied her first collegiate hit as she laid down the bunt successfully to advance Coberly and reach. Both Tritons were left on base as the final out of the inning was punched.
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In the fifth, Claire Adams retired the visitors in order and tallied her third strikeout of the season. Hassis was the lead off runner once again in the fifth as the Tritons attempted to extend the game. With an out on the board, LBSU turned a double play to end the inning and game early.
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TRITON TIDBITSÂ
- Marissa Hassis reached twice today on a hit and walk in her one at-bat.
- Jackie Tremper notched her first collegiate hit on a bunt going 1-for-1 in today's contest.
- Alexa DeMarse was 1-for-1 at the plate.
- Lexi O'Gorman was 1-for-2 at the plate.
- Claire Adams tossed 1.2 innings of relief for the Tritons allowing no runs on not hits or walks with a strikeout tallied.
- This first series opener the Tritons have dropped this season.
- Long Beach continues to lead the all-time meetings at 9-2, and the Tritons have yet to win a series over LBSU.
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UP NEXTÂ
UC San Diego plays its second and third game in its series against Long Beach State on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Triton Softball Stadium. The games can be watched
live on ESPN+ with live statistics on UCSDTritons.com.Â
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About UC San Diego AthleticsÂ
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 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 earned 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 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.Â
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