SAN MARCOS, Tex. – Competing in the team's first doubleheader of the 2025 season, the San Diego softball team (1-2, 0-0 WCC) dropped their opener to #14 Arkansas (5-0, 0-0 SEC) 2-1 on Saturday afternoon, before bouncing back for a 2-0 evening victory over Lipscomb (1-3, 0-0 ASUN).

USD's pitching staff was stellar across both games as Emma Giaime tossed 6 2/3 innings while allowing just one earned run, while McKenna Breagelmann picked up the victory against Lipscomb after throwing 5 2/3 scoreless in her season debut. 

HOW IT HAPPENED - No. 14 ARKANSAS 2, SAN DIEGO 1 

• The early portions of the game were low scoring as both starting pitchers excelled in the circle. 
• Emma Giaime did a great job navigating traffic as she stranded a Razorback one-out single in the second and a two-out walk in the third to keep a potent offense off the scoreboard. 
• Mikalyn Emanuelli delivered USD's first base hit of the game in the top of the fourth with a lead-off single but was stranded at second to end the inning. 
• San Diego was the first team to break through in the first part of the doubleheader as Michelle Delgado worked a lead-off walk and came around to score on a two-run triple by Alyssa Hernandez for the 1-0 Torero lead. 
• After Arkansas put the tying and go-ahead runs on base in the bottom of the sixth, Giamie was able to induce a double play ball to get USD out of the inning with the lead still in tact. 
• The Razorbacks would go on to plate two runs in the bottom of the seventh to earn the victory in game one on Saturday. 

HOW IT HAPPENED - SAN DIEGO 2, LIPSCOMB 0 

• Beginning her season in the circle, Braegelmann was locked in early as she recorded a couple of strikeouts in the top of the first to stymie the Bison hitters.
• After another scoreless frame in the second, USD's bats started to come alive as Taylor Johnson and Shawnese Hogue-Lacy recorded back-to-back singles but were left on base to keep the game scoreless. 
• Getting back to work in the box in the bottom of the third, Kaitlyn Wynia reached base on a leadoff infield single. Carly Ruiz then recorded her first hit of the new season and scored on a two-out single from EJ Joyner back up the middle as the Toreros grabbed an early 1-0 lead. 
• Braegelmann continued to excel after getting the lead as she set the Bison down in order in the fourth, allowing just one hitter to reach base through the first four frames. 
• San Diego would build on their lead in the bottom of the fourth with Hogue-Lacy delivering a lead off single, and then came around to score on an RBI double from Janae Combs to double USD's advantage to 2-0. 
• After getting the first two hitters out in the sixth, Lipscomb singled and drew a walk to put the tying runs on base. Kelsey Tadlock then took over in the circle and got the Bison hitter to pop out to second and end the threat. 
• Tadlock went back out for the seventh inning and retired the Lipscomb hitters in order, striking out the last hitter she faced and helping San Diego pick up the 2-0 victory and first win of 2025. 

TORERO TIDBITS

• Giaime was absolutely stellar in her first outing of the season as she went 6 2/3 allowing just three hits, one earned runs and throwing 121 pitches against #14 Arkansas. 
• Hernandez continued her strong start to the season as she went 1-for-2 with an RBI triple against the Razorbacks. 
• Continuing the trend of strong team pitching, Braegelmann was in top form as she allowed just one hit over 5 2/3 innings pitched to pick up the victory in her first start of the season. 
• Hogue-Lacy delivered at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance and a run scored against the Bison while leading the pitching staff behind the plate for the shutout. 
• Beginning their collegiate careers on Saturday, both Emily Taylor and Mallory Axline made their first appearances during the doubleheader in San Marcos. 

NEXT UP
The Toreros now look forward to their final two games of the weekend bright and early on Sunday. USD will first take on Bradley (1-3, 0-0 MVC) at 8:00 a.m. PT, and will wrap up their trip with a rematch against Lipscomb (1-3, 0-0 ASUN) at 10:15 a.m. with both games taking place at Bobcat Softball Stadium. Live statistic links for both games can be found on the team's website.