SAN DIEGO – The San Diego softball program (21-28-1, 6-6 WCC) will conclude the 2023 season this weekend, traveling to Loyola Marymount (26-18, 11-1 WCC) for three WCC games at Smith Field.
 
Friday will open with a single game at 6 p.m., while Saturday will feature a doubleheader at 2 and 4 p.m.
 
LAST TIME OUT

• The Toreros earned a thrilling, come-from-behind victory over Santa Clara, 2-1, on senior day to secure the series victory.
• In poetic fashion, the Toreros were led by the senior class, with Izzy Owen securing the game tying RBI and Clareese Santiago delivering the go-ahead RBI sacrifice fly.
• Madison Earnshaw threw a complete game four-hitter in the circle for the win.

 
OPPONENT HISTORY

• San Diego trails LMU 66-99 in the all-time series and will look to snap a 12-game skid against the Lions.
• The Lions sit in first place in the WCC with three games remaining and are seeking the WCC title this weekend.

 
WHAT TO WATCH FOR

• Five pending graduates – Savannah Alarcon, Earnshaw, Owen, Santiago and Alexia Torculas, will play their final games as Toreros this weekend.
• San Diego has played in 15 games separated by one run or fewer this season, with several additional games featuring late-game, high leverage situations.
• The Toreros are 16-4 in games where they register two or more extra base hits.
• The Toreros are 11-1 overall when they score six or more runs in a game. The Toreros are 3-0 in WCC games where they reach the threshold.
• San Diego already has their most conference wins in a season since 2017 and is looking to secure a finish of third, trailing Saint Mary's by one game with three to play.

 
TORERO TIDBITS

• The Toreros finished off their home schedule with 12 wins, good for the most by the program since 2019.
• San Diego has scored 183 runs this season, good for the most by the program since 2017-18 (185). The Toreros have increased their scoring output in every season under head coach MJ Knighten.
• Earnshaw (309) sits in sixth all-time in strikeouts at San Diego and needs three more to pass Colleen Norman (311) for fifth.
• Earnshaw will finish her career ranking fourth all-time in pitching appearances and starts and is seeking the first 10-win season of her career this weekend.
• Emma Giaime has featured excellent control since entering the collegiate game and ranks second in the WCC in walks allowed per game (1.04), which also ranks 23rd in the nation.
• Taylor Johnson continues to draw hit-by-pitches at an enormous rate, ranking 19th in the nation and first in the WCC in hit-by-pitches per game (0.30).
• Owen ranks second in the WCC in hits (55), batting average (.372) and third in doubles (11).
• Should Owen record five more hits, she'd be the ninth Torero ever with 60 in a season.
• Owen's next double would move her into a tie for tenth on the Toreros single season doubles list.
• Mikalyn Emanuelli has the most stolen bases for a player not caught in the WCC, going 13-for-13 so far this season and ranks fourth overall. The next highest perfect baserunner in the conference is 5-for-5.

 
HOW TO FOLLOW
All three games will be broadcast via the WCC Network. Live stats will be provided by statbroadcast. To stay up to date with Toreros softball, follow the team on Instagram & Twitter by searching "USDsoftball".