The UC San Diego softball team was edged out by West Chester, 7-6, at the Denver finals of the NCAA Division II National Championship at Regency Athletic Complex, ending their title run.
UC San Diego moved to 37-17 to close out their season on Friday, while Pennsylvania’s West Chester University improved to 40-21.
It was the first trip to the National Championship for the Tritons since the 2012 season, when they finished as runner-up.
The Tritons got on the scoreboard early. With two outs in the first, cleanup batter Sherriah Harrington’s Her bloop single to left field brought home Maddy Lewis, who had walked, giving the Tritons a 1-0 lead.
By the fifth, the lead had grown to 5-0, as Mikaila Reyes smacked a homer over the left field fence.
In the bottom half of the inning, West Chester began to mount its comeback, scoring one run, then in the sixth, added five more.
Earlier in the championship, the team fell to Augustana University, of Sioux Falls, S.D., 8-0.
Augustana will play Texas A&M University, Kingsville in the Division II final game on Monday.
– Staff reports