STOCKTON — In Stanislaus State softball's return to the postseason after a nine-year hiatus, the Warriors show a lot fight and resilience before falling to UC San Diego, 4-3, in the CCAA Softball Championship tournament Friday night at UOP's Bill Simoni Field.
The Warriors (32-21) rallied for three late runs against freshman of the year Robyn Wampler before the one-run loss. Stan State will now face Cal State San Bernardino in an elimination game on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
Ruby Quiralte led the offense going 2-for-3 with a RBI triple in the fourth to start the Stanislaus scoring.
Katelyn McDonald was 1-for-3 including a double to the right-center gap to score a run in the sixth.
Anyssa Garvin also came up big with a pinch-hit single to center that scored
Alexus Martinez.
"It was a tough battle. We worked really really hard to get back into the game," head coach
Jessica Ventoza said. "We came back, we fought, and we had better at bats as the game went ont. I am pretty proud of us and I think we have a lot more left in us and we will be ready tomorrow."
UC San Diego jumped on the board with three runs in the first inning on three hits — all of them a couple of inches from Stan State defenders' gloves. The Tritons (35-15) would add a run in the second on a Sherriah Harrington RBI double to make it 4-0.
Stanislaus reliever
Megan Stacy entered the game in the second and limited UCSD's offense despite giving up a single in each inning. Only one Triton reached second base after the second inning on a stolen base.
The Warriors are making their first appearance in the postseason since 2009, the year Stanislaus advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals.
Quiralte has been a part of the rebuilding-program for the last four seasons since her freshman year, when the Warriors finished 15-35 overall and second to last in the CCAA at 7-29.
"Its' great to be part of the process to see us start on the bottom and now we are here," Quiralte said. "To see our hard work paying off, especially for these young girls, it's great to see. I am just so happy to be a part of it."
No. 20 UC San Diego, winner of seven straight games, improved to 35-15 and will face No. 2 Chico State at Noon on Saturday. Chico State beat Cal State San Bernardino 12-0 in five innings in the first game on Friday.
