LA JOLLA, Calif. - The Cal State San Marcos softball team suffered two losses to UC San Diego in a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) doubleheader, Sunday at Triton Softball Field. UCSD won game one by a score of 9-2 and game two by a score of 4-3. The Tritons took the four-game series, 4-0.
 
CSUSM drops to 0-7 overall and 0-4 in conference play. UCSD remains unbeaten on the season at 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the CCAA.
 
The Cougars will host Cal State San Bernardino in a four-game series on Friday, Feb. 17 and Saturday, Feb. 18. Both days are doubleheaders, scheduled to start at noon.  
 
GAME ONE - UC San Diego 9, Cal State San Marcos 2
CSUSM allowed four runs in the first and five runs in the fifth and lost, 9-2. The Cougars scored one run apiece in the third and fourth innings.
 
Junior designated player Heather Rygg had one hit and one RBI. Junior catcher Karla Bernal and freshman infielder Gabriela Arizaga had CSUSM's two runs. Senior pitcher Ashley Dagenais took the loss after throwing five innings and giving up five earned runs. UCSD pitcher Lauren Brown was credited with the win in six innings of work with two strikeouts.
 
The Tritons struck for four in the bottom of the first as UCSD's Maddy Lewis hit an RBI double and Caitlyn Weisner jacked a three-run home run.
 
The Cougars cut the deficit to two as Bernal scored on an error in the third and Arizaga came home after Rygg grounded out.
 
The Tritons plated five in the bottom of the fifth as CSUSM had no answers in the final two frames.
 
GAME TWO - UC San Diego 4, Cal State San Marcos 3
CSUSM outhit its opponent for the first time this season, getting 10 hits and limiting UCSD to five, but came up one run shy and fell, 4-3.
 
Arizaga went perfect from the plate, going 4-for-4, with two RBI and one run. Junior outfielder Lindsay Cerulle went 3-for-4. Freshman pitcher Cheyenne Alvarez gave up four runs, only one being earned, on five hits in six innings.
 
The Tritons scored all four of their runs in the first inning. After CSUSM gave up the first score on a bunt, a fielding error by the Cougars became costly as it loaded the bases. UCSD's Mikaila Reyes hit a bases-clearing double in the next at-bat to score three for the Tritons. CSUSM would not allow UCSD to score after the first inning.
 
The Cougars answered in the top of the second with senior outfielder Holly Fauria grounding out, but being able to plate Rygg from third base. Arizaga homered in the third inning and hit an RBI single to bring in senior outfielder Breanna Stiles in the fifth to cut the gap to one.
 
The Cougars had an opportunity to tie the game in the seventh, but came up empty. With two outs and Cerulle at first, Arizaga hit a single to the outfield. Cerulle took second base and went for third, but was gunned down by UCSD center fielder Kelsi Maday to end the contest.