IRVINE, Calif. -- It was a historic season for Concordia with 47 wins, a PacWest title and a sub-regional title, but it came to a conclusion on Friday as UC San Diego came from behind in the seventh inning for a 4-3 victory to win the West Region on a game-winning single by Mikaila Reyes.
The Eagles wrap up the season with a 47-8 record after reaching the NCAA West Regional Championship Series for the first time in program history. UC San Diego advances to play in the NCAA National Championship Tournament in Denver next week.
Concordia never trailed until the final play of the game, but also never led by more than one run in a tight pitching dual on the campus of Concordia University Irvine. The Eagles scored first in the top of the second inning on a single by
Lauren Lopez on a full count to drive in
Michelle Lieng. However, the Tritons got that run back in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game 1-1.
The Eagles retook in the lead in the next half inning on a sacrifice bunt by All-PacWest catcher
Mackenzie Graham, which allowed
Megan Massa to score. Once again, UC San Diego quickly got the run back with a four-pitch bases-loaded walk to make the score 2-2.
Callie Nunes managed to get out of the jam and prevent the Tritons from taking their first lead of the game with a groundout to third base.
For a third time, Concordia took a one-run lead in the top of the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by Massa to centerfield. The Eagles were just six outs away from forcing a deciding third game, but the Tritons' offense kept putting pressure on Concordia. In the bottom of the seventh, Reyes got the game winning hit with a single to left-center field that allowed the winning run to score easily, sending the Tritons to nationals.