SAN DIEGO – The San Diego softball program (2-10, 0-0 WCC) used timely base-running and small ball to outlast a late rally by UC San Diego (6-5, 0-0 Big West), earning a 3-2 win on Monday night at Triton Softball Field.
 
Mikalyn Emanuelli led the way on offense, with a career-high three hits and one RBI, while Taylor Johnson added two more RBI. Madison Earnshaw went 5.2 innings in the circle, allowing just two earned runs.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Tritons were the first to strike, opening the first inning with a manufactured run.
• After a walk and stolen base, the Tritons drove in a run on a bunt single.
• From there, the Toreros kept finding chances to equalize, getting runners in scoring position the next two frames.
• Emanuelli took the game into her own hands in the fourth inning, opening with a single. The sophomore then advanced from first base to third on a passed ball.
• Johnson would then execute a perfect squeeze play, as Emanuelli beat the tag and tied the game at 1-1.
• In the fifth inning, San Diego manufactured two more runs, as Amanda Limon reached on an error to open the inning and Izzy Owen drew a walk.
• After advancing on a groundout, Emanuelli drove home the go-ahead run on a floating single over the third baseman to score Limon and take a 2-1 lead.
• After Emanuelli stole second and Emma Giaime drew a walk, Johnson added a key insurance run with a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to make it 3-1.
• UC San Diego got a run back in the sixth inning, forcing Earnshaw out of the game, but Courtney Rose came in and shut the door with a strikeout to strand two runners.
• The Tritons opened the final frame with two base runners, but Rose and the Toreros defense clamped down to secure the save and win. l

 
TORERO TIDBITS

• Madison Earnshaw (273) registered two strikeouts on the night and passed Christina Haake (272) for sole possession of eighth place on the Toreros all-time strikeout list. Next up is Jade Quentin (281) in seventh.  
• Johnson has now been hit by seven pitches this season. That's already the most to a Torero in a single season since 2016.
• Owen has now reached in 10 of 12 games this season.  

 
UP NEXT
The Toreros will head back out on the road for the Mary Nutter Classic, from Feb. 24-26. San Diego will open with California and Cal Poly on Feb. 24, with all games being streamed via FloSoftball.