LA JOLLA, Calif.—Mikaila Pancino's single through the left side in the bottom of the ninth delivered the winning run in a 2-1 UC San Diego victory against South Dakota Tuesday at Triton Softball Field.
 
It was a scheduled doubleheader, but play was halted after game one due to rain. South Dakota (9-13) next faces Colgate Friday on the campus of University of San Diego.
 
South Dakota starting pitcher Clara Edwards went eight strong innings, but the Coyotes' offense was limited to four hits on the day. Alecea Mendoza gave USD a 1-0 lead with a triple in the second inning that scored Gabby Moser who had walked earlier in the frame. It was Mendoza's second triple of the season.
 
The Tritons tied the game at 1-1 on a bang-bang play at the plate in the fourth. Clarissa Reynoso squeezed home Kelley Renner who somehow managed to avoid the tag at the plate even though Edwards fielded the bunt and threw home in time. The tie score held until the ninth.
 
Almost all the action came in the final frame. South Dakota had runners on first and third in the top of the ninth and couldn't score. An attempted squeeze bunt backfired and led to an out at third. Two groundballs got UC San Diego out of the frame.
 
Kori Wedeking relieved Edwards to start the bottom of the ninth. Keila Bosinger greeted her with an infield single and a four-pitch walk put two on. The Titans bunted the runners over to set the table for Pancino's winner.
 
A bright spot for South Dakota was it saw center fielder Courtney Wilson return to the lineup. She left with an injury during the Coyotes' first game in California and missed the next three games. Wilson was 1-for-4 in her return Tuesday.