SAN DIEGO – The San Diego softball program (7-16, 0-0 WCC) built an early lead and never looked back, downing UC Riverside (11-12, 0-0 Big West), 3-1, on Thursday afternoon at the USD Softball Complex.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• San Diego struck quickly to open the game, jumping on the Highlanders in the second inning.  
• Joecellia Roberts led off the inning with a single and was moved to third thanks to strong baserunning off a sacrifice bunt.
• KJ Hopfer drove in the game's opening run with a single up the middle to make it 1-0.
• Izzy Owen immediately drove in Hopfer with a double to the right center field wall and EJ Joyner drove in Owen to extend the lead to 3-0.
• The lead was all Emma Giaime needed, as the freshman continued to roll in the circle all afternoon.
• Giaime went through the first four innings without allowing a baserunner, before the Highlanders got their first hit on a bunt single.
• UC Riverside got their first run in the sixth inning, off an RBI single, but Giaime continued to excel, stopping their rally with an immediate ground out.
• Giaime polished off an 85-pitch complete game by locking down the Highlanders rally in the seventh inning and stranding a runner.

 
TORERO TIDBITS

• Owen extended her on-base streak to seven consecutive games.
• The Toreros improved to 3-3 this season against Big West teams and have now won three straight games against UC Riverside.
• Giaime threw the first complete game with no walks by a Torero since Madison Earnshaw on May 9, 2021 against Saint Mary's.
• The Toreros are now 6-2 in games where they register two or more extra base hits.

 
UP NEXT
The Toreros are back at home to open the San Diego Tournament on Saturday afternoon against Western Carolina (3 p.m.) and Michigan State (5:30 p.m.).