Box Score Salem, Va. --- Sixteenth-ranked UC San Diego used a four-run fourth inning to rally from a 2-0 deficit and earn a 4-2 win over 14th-ranked Minnesota State Friday morning at the NCAA Division II Softball Championships.

With the loss, MSU drops to 54-15 on the season and will face the winner of Indiana (Pa) and Midwestern State tomorrow evening at 7:30 p.m. (EDT) in an elimination contest. IUP and Midwestern State will play an elimination game of their own at 2:30 p.m. (EDT).

The Mavericks would out-hit UCSD 10-6 but stranded nine runners on base, including seven in scoring position in the loss.

“We have to do a better job of stringing together hits,” said head coach Lori Meyer. “Along with that, we needed to stop their momentum when they had their big inning.”

UC San Diego lead off hitter Kris Lesovsky opened the game by drawing a lead-off walk before being sacrificed to second. Taylor Sepulveda would fly out in foul territory to right field, moving Lesovsky to third.
Lesovsky would be stranded at third however as MSU junior right-hander Kendra Huettl would pop up shortstop Sarah Woofter to first base to get out of the inning without any damage.

Minnesota State sophomore left fielder Lauryn Morris reached on a one-out infield single to open the bottom of the first before stealing second with two outs. Morris was stranded at second as senior third baseman #Julie O’Neal# to end the inning.

After Huettl would retire the Tritons in order with ground balls in the top of the second before freshman designated player Lindsay Erickson reached on a single to start the bottom of the second inning.

Erickson was replaced by sophomore pinch runner Eryn Edgerton would steal second before moving to third on a single to leftfield by junior centerfielder Chelsea Erickson.

Erickson would get into a run down on a delayed steal before Edgerton got thrown out at the plate on a 2-4-3-6-2 caught stealing for the inning’s second out. Sophomore shortstop Abby Sonner would line out to rightfield to end the inning and the Maverick threat.

Shortstop Mya Romero opened the top of the third with a single to centerfield before being sacrificed to second base. Lesovsky would be hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second for the UCSD.

Taylor Sepulveda would reach on an error to load the bases before Huettl started a 1-2-3 double play to get out of the inning with out any damage.

Junior second baseman Amanda Umhoefer opened the bottom of the third inning with a single to shortstop before stealing second base.

UCSD starting pitcher Camille Gaito would strikeout junior rightfielder Melanie Upchurch before Morris singled to centerfield, scoring Umhoefer at the plate on a close play. The play at the plate allowed Morris to move to second and she then moved to third on a single off the bat of senior first baseman Natalie Spicer putting runners on the corners.

O’Neal would reach on a fielder’s choice to plate Morris before Gaito got out of the inning with a pop-up as MSU staked a 2-0 lead through three innings.

Huettl would give up a lead-off double to Jennifer De Fazio to start the second. De Fazio would be sacrificed to third base before Huettl loaded the bases with-back-to-back walks to load the bases.

Pinch-hitter Jennifer Manuel would single to right-centerfield to tie the game before being replaced by Katrin Gabriel who she hit for as runners stood at the corners for the Tritons.

Lesovsky would double to right-centerfield to plate both Romero and Gabriel and chase Huettl from the game.

Sophomore Courtney McKelvogue replaced Huettl in the circle and recorded a strikeout to end the inning.

UCSD opened the top of the fifth with back-to-back walks before MSU would use a groundball out at third to record the first out.

Tess Granath would then ground out to O’Neal at third that started a 5-5-3 double-play to get out of the inning.

Upchurch opened the bottom of the fifth by slapping a single through the leftside before Morris popped up a bunt for the first out.

Spicer would be hit by a pitch to move Upchurch to second before O’Neal lined into a double-play, catching Spicer at first to end the Maverick threat.

Romero would reach on a slow-roller in the top of the sixth inning but was caught stealing at second for the inning’s final out.

Lindsay Erickson would double to left-centerfield to start the start the Maverick sixth. She was stranded at second however as Gaito got two flyballs to get out of the inning.

Upchurch started the bottom of the seventh with a one-out single up the middle. Morris would follow with an infield hit and Spicer would walk to load the bases for O’Neal.

O’Neal grounded into a fielder’s choice, retiring Upchurch at the plate and Lindsay Erickson popped up to short to end the inning and the game.

Huettl would work 3.2 innings, allowing four runs on four hits while McKelvogue worked 3.1 innings and allowed two hits wile walking three and striking out one.

Morris led MSU at the plate with a 3-for-4 effort with a run scored and driven in while Upchurch was 2-for-4.

To view the game stats, click HERE

Watch the postgame press conference