PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – The San Diego softball program (2-12, 0-0 WCC) fell in a pair of one-run games, falling 9-8 to No. 24 Northwestern (6-4, 0-0 Big Ten) and 4-3 to UCF (8-6, 0-0 Big 12) on Saturday at the Big League Dreams Complex.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – NO. 24 NORTHWESTERN 9, SAN DIEGO 8

• The game opened up in Northwestern's favor, as the Wildcats tallied four runs in the opening frame.
• However, the Toreros were able to get one back in the second inning, as Mikalyn Emanuelli notched an RBI single to make it 4-1.
• The Toreros would chip away at the lead, scoring another run in the third inning.
• Joecellia Roberts singles to lead off the inning and Arisa Tovar added another single, before Amanda Limon drove home Roberts with an RBI base knock.
• Taylor Johnson opened the fourth inning with a double and after a Michelle Delgado single and Roberts RBI groundout, the Toreros cut the lead to 4-3.
• Northwestern increased the lead in the bottom half of the frame, but the Toreros got it right back in the fifth inning with Emanuelli's second RBI single of the day to make it 5-4.
• Northwestern was able to take a 9-4 lead and record four runs in the fifth inning, but the Toreros would not quit.
• Tovar and Limon opened the seventh inning with back-to-back singles and Carly Ruiz reached on an error to load the bases with one out.
• Johnson stepped up to the plate and delivered her second double of the game, scoring two runs and making it 9-6.
• After Delgado was hit by a pitch, Roberts followed with an RBI single to make it 9-7 with the bases remaining loaded.
• Shawnese Hogue-Lacy was next up and once again delivered with an RBI single to cut the Northwestern lead to 9-8.
• However, the Wildcats were able to escape the bases loaded situation and snared a line out to end the game.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED – UCF 4, SAN DIEGO 3

• San Diego kept the momentum from the end of the Northwestern game and jumped out to an early lead.
• Johnson singled in the first inning and Delgado doubled to set up Roberts.
• The junior delivered an infield single to score Johnson and give San Diego a quick 1-0 lead.
• UCF would strike for two runs in the second inning, but the Toreros had an answer.
• Ruiz led off the third inning with a triple and was driven home by Delgado on an RBI sacrifice fly to tie the game at 2-2.
• The Knights would jump back in front with two runs in the third inning.
• In the fourth inning, the Toreros got another spark from Tovar, who launched her first home run just inside the left field foul pole to cut the UCF lead to 4-3.
• Both sides began to settle in the game, as Courtney Rose stepped in the circle for the Toreros in relief and would deal three scoreless innings.
• The Toreros had one more golden chance to score in the fifth inning, as Ruiz led off the frame with a double and moved to third on the next at bat by Johnson.
• However, Ruiz would be stranded at third base and the Toreros were unable to make up the one run deficit.

 
TORERO TIDBITS

• The 16 hits by the Toreros against Northwestern matched the highest total from last season.
• Tovar is now a career .324 hitter in three stints at the Mary Nutter Classic, with two of her three career home runs and six RBI.

 
NEXT UP

• The Toreros will complete their time at the Mary Nutter Classic, facing UC Riverside on Sunday at 2 p.m.

 
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