PHOENIX – The University of San Diego Toreros softball team kicked off their weekend at the GCU Tournament in Phoenix with a doubleheader against two Mountain West Conference teams: New Mexico and UNLV.
In the first match, USD struggled at the plate, resulting in a 2-0 defeat to New Mexico. Despite the loss, junior Emma Giaime delivered an impressive performance on the mound, allowing just one earned run over six innings.
Things turned around in the second game against UNLV. San Diego took the lead early, thanks to a three-run homer by Taylor Johnson, who is now leading the team with four home runs this season. The Toreros held on to win 5-2.
GAME RECAPS
New Mexico 2, San Diego 0
- USD started strong with singles from Michelle Delgado and Taylor Johnson that loaded the bases, but they couldn’t capitalize.
- Giaime struck out the first two batters of the game, showcasing her pitching skills early on.
- New Mexico scored the first run after a ground out and a fielding error allowed a run to cross home plate.
- SD struggled to hit consistently, retiring in order for several innings and failing to respond to New Mexico’s scoring efforts.
- By the sixth inning, the game slipped away when New Mexico scored their second run, taking a 2-0 lead.
- Despite a brief moment of hope when Johnson hit a single, the Toreros couldn’t rally in the final inning.
San Diego 5, UNLV 2
- In their next game, the Toreros came out swinging. After Hailey Mulligan got hit by a pitch, Carly Ruiz moved her to second, and Michelle Delgado walked, setting up for Johnson’s impressive homer.
- UNLV managed to respond with a run of their own, but USD maintained a lead.
- With more aggressive hitting, San Diego’s Delgado reclaimed the team’s three-run lead with an RBI single.
- Tadlock took over pitching duties and managed to finish strong, ensuring no further runs were scored by UNLV.
- In a tense seventh inning, USD’s insurance run came from EJ Joyner, sealing the 5-2 victory despite pressure from UNLV.
PLAYER HIGHLIGHTS
- Taylor Johnson earned two hits against New Mexico, raising her batting average to .312.
- Giaime’s solid performance despite the loss brought her ERA down to 4.91.
- Johnson’s home run against UNLV marked her fourth of the season, highlighting her scoring ability.
- Delgado led the team in batting with a .424 average, which is among the best in the West Coast Conference.
- Bartlow earned a win, while Kelsey Tadlock secured her fourth save of the season.
Next Game: The Toreros will face Grand Canyon on Saturday at 6:30 PM PST at GCU Softball Stadium. The previously scheduled game against New Mexico has been canceled due to field conditions.
Check out this related article: Join the Excitement: Penn Softball Kicks Off Purple Classic Tournament at Grand Canyon!
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