San Diego, Calif. (February 28, 2020)—Mount St. Mary's opened play at the San Diego Classic today with a pair of tough matchups against San Jose State and No. 1 UCLA.  The Mount gave San Jose State all it could handle before falling 4-1 in the opening game.  The Mountaineers then fell to top-ranked UCLA, 10-0 in five innings, in the second game.

SAN JOSE STATE 4, MOUNT ST. MARY'S 1

Mount St. Mary's fell to San Jose State, 4-1, in the opening game of the day at the San Diego Classic.  The Spartans stretched their win streak to 16 with the victory.

The Mount jumped on top with a run in the top of the third inning.  Kaylee Stoner singled with one out to open the inning, and Maggie Kane reached on an error to put runners on first and second.  Kaia Bonshock grounded into a fielder's choice to put runners on the corners, and Shelbee Holcomb came through with a clutch two-out RBI single to right to put the Mount ahead.

The Spartans (16-2) answered with an unearned run in the bottom of the third off Mount starter Avery Neuhart.  A single and two Mount errors put runners on second and third with one out, and Avery Graham tied the game with a sacrifice fly.

The score remained tied until the bottom of the sixth when the Spartans rallied for three runs.  Graham tripled to center field to open the inning, and she came home when the next batter reached on a Mount error.  Janessa Lozano followed with a double to give San Jose State a two-run cushion, and Rayohna Sagapolu's RBI single made it a 4-1 game.

The Mount went down in order in the seventh.

Neuhart had a solid start for the Mountaineers, striking out three while allowing four runs (two earned) in the complete game.  

No. 1 UCLA 10, MOUNT ST. MARY'S 0

The Mountaineers closed out the first day of the San Diego Classic with a matchup against top-ranked UCLA.  The Bruins scored five times in the bottom of the fourth to break open the game en route to a 10-0 victory.

Things looked promising in the top of the first when the Mountaineers loaded the bases with no outs.  Kaylee Stoner walked, Kirsten Mumma reached on an error on a bunt, and Kaia Bonshock singled to load the bases.  UCLA pitcher Lexi Sosa was able to get out of the jam with a pair of fly outs and a strikeout.

UCLA scored four times in the bottom of the first to take the lead, taking advantage of Mount starter Jordan Weaver's six walks in the inning. The first four batters walked to bring home a run, and Delanie Wisz followed with a double to make it 3-0.  A sacrifice fly gave the Bruins the four-run cushion.

The Mount threatened again in the third when Bonshock and Holcomb each singled with two outs to put a pair of runners on base, but Kate Wade grounded out to end the inning. UCLA tacked on a run in the bottom of the third, and scored five times in the fifth to seal the win.

Bonshock went 2-for-3 at the plate for the Mount while Holcomb added the other hit in the game.  Weaver allowed four runs in one inning to take the loss.  Amanda Berkley allowed six runs in three innings of relief.

This was the Mount's first-ever game against the No.1 team in the nation.  The Mount drops to 0-8 all-time against ranked opponents.

Mount St. Mary's will face CSUN tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. ET.