UC-San Diego Tops No. 25 Softball In Game One Of NCAA World Series, 7-0
SALEM, Va. (May 26, 2011) – A run in each of the second and third innings followed by five more runs in the fifth and sixth innings helped catapult the University of California – San Diego Tritons to a 7-0 win in the first game of the NCAA Division II College World Series Thursday afternoon at Moyer Sports Complex.
UC-San Diego improves to 42-13 overall and will face the winner of Saginaw Valley/Minnesota State – Mankato on Friday at 4 p.m. C.W. Post drops to 41-15 and will face the loser on Saturday at 12 p.m.
The Tritons scored a run in each of the second and third innings before opening up their lead in the fifth with three runs on one hit and four Pioneer miscues.
With a 5-0 lead in the top of the seventh, UC-San Diego put the game further out of reach with a pair of runs on two singles.
The Pioneers had a chance to score a run in the bottom of the first when junior centerfielder Kerry Fisher (Barto, Pa.) looped a two-out double to centerfield with freshman third baseman Nicole Hagenah (Commack, N.Y.) followed in the clean-up spot and nearly knocked Fisher in with what looked like a hit down the left field line before the umpire crew ruled it foul. The Tritons got out of the jam by getting Hagenah to ground out to second to end the inning.
In the second inning, junior catcher Kristen Morcone (Milford, Mass.) singled down the left field line with two outs before UC-San Diego pitcher Camille Gaito rung up freshman designated player Jessica Julich (Kings Park, N.Y.) to end the inning. Julich was the last batter to reach base for C.W. Post after getting plunked in the arm in the fifth inning.
Gaito tossed a two-hit shutout for her 32nd win of the season.
Senior Christina Berardi (Raynham, Mass.) took the loss after giving up two unearned runs on one hit and five walks through two innings pitched. Senior Sarah Kiser (Arnold, Md.) came on in relief in the third and gave up three earned runs on six hits while striking out four. The Pioneer defense had a tough day in the field with a season-high seven errors.