SAN DIEGO - San Diego softball (10-18, 2-1 WCC) will head to Los Angeles, Calif. this weekend to take on LMU (10-17, 2-1 WCC) in the first WCC road series of the 2021 campaign.
 
Action at Smith Field will get underway on Saturday, April 17 with double header action at noon and 2 p.m. (PT). Game three is set for Sunday at noon (PT).
 
LAST TIME OUT

• San Diego won the opening WCC series against Pacific, rebounding to take games two and three after falling 2-1 in game one.
• Game three was all San Diego as the Toreros took a 3-1 lead in the first and never surrendered the advantage.
• Clareese Santiago led the way in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 in the ballgame with a double and an RBI. Alexia Torculas also compiled a standout day, drawing two walks with an RBI.
• In games one and two, Sophia Bjerk served as the offensive bright spot hitting 3-for-5 on the day with a double and two RBIs.

 
ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST LMU

• The Lions hold advantage in the all-time series as San Diego trails 69-91.
• The Toreros have a three-game advantage in San Diego, but trail on the road and are 30-47 all time in Los Angeles.
• The 2021 matchup marks the first since the 2019 campaign where LMU swept the series in Los Angeles. The Toreros were just shy in game three in 2019, losing 3-4.

 
ON THE ROAD AGAIN

• This weekend's series will mark the first true road matchup for the Toreros since March 9 at Long Beach State.
• The Toreros have only had six road games all season and are currently 1-5 away from the USD Softball Complex.
• Last time on the road, the Toreros split double header action with UC San Diego losing game one 3-7 and taking game two 5-4.

 
POTENT PITCHING

• Freshman McKenna Braegelmann continues to lead the West Coast Conference in ERA, sitting at 1.63 on the year.
• In 34.1 innings of work, Braegelmann has struck out 33 and given up no home runs on the year.
• Courtney Rose and Madison Earnshaw continue to be the work horses in the circle combining for 31 appearances on the year.
• Earnshaw leads the pitching staff in strikeouts with 37 on the year (fifth in the WCC) with Rose right behind her with 36.
• Opponents are hitting less than .290 against Braegelmann, Earnshaw and Rose creating a vital rotation in the circle for USD.

 
FINDING A WAY AT THE PLATE

• As San Diego looks to find rhythm at the plate, the Toreros have found a way to reach double-digit wins.
• The offensive effort has been driven by small ball with San Diego laying down 28 SAC bunts on the year.
•  13 different players have contributed to the small ball efforts as the Toreros have registered 16 hits on bunt attempts.
• Situationally, the Toreros are hitting the best with a runner on third and less than two outs (.425 average).
• San Diego has struggled this season as a team with bases loaded (hitting .188) and with two outs (hitting .188).
• Pinch hitters have come through for the Toreros averaging .333 on the year.

 
INSIDE THE WCC

• After last weekend's series win the Toreros currently sit in third in the West Coast Conference standings behind LMU and BYU.
• All teams in the WCC have reached double digit wins outside of Santa Clara and Saint Mary's during the 2021 campaign.