IRVINE, Calif. -- Concordia didn't get the start it was looking for in the NCAA West Region Championship series on Thursday, taking a 9-1 loss against UC San Diego at the Concordia Softball Field as the Tritons tagged on six runs in the sixth inning.

What started as a highly-anticipated pitching dual didn't stay that way for more than a couple innings. In 4.1 innings of work, Callie Nunes struck out four batters, but the Tritons got to her in the third inning, scoring a pair of runs. After another run in the fifth inning, Nunes' first outing of the series came to an end. No. 2 seed UC San Diego then dropped a six-spot in the sixth inning in what ended up being a runs-rule victory for the Tritons.

Concordia was held to just three hits and one walk, but the Eagles scratched one run across in the bottom of the ninth on Mackenzie Graham's RBI base hit to plate Sidni Dix. The Eagles first hit was by Sarah Kretschmar as the Eagles' bats got off to a slow start. However, the third time through the lineup, Concordia had a little more success offensively, which was a good sign going into Friday's game. 

Concordia will need to win two to advance to the national quarterfinals. The first game is scheduled for noon, and if the Eagles win, there will be another game following as a winner-take-all battle in Irvine.