LA JOLLA, Calif. – Late hits from Mary Dettling and Kim Nelson pulled the Saints within one run as Saint Martin's fell in the 2017 season opener to UC San Diego, 5-4, in California.

SMU (0-1), down to their final out, rallied behind a Nelson three-run home run to left field to cut the Tritons' (1-0) lead to one run. Earlier in the inning, Dettling doubled down the right field foul line, scoring Lauren Diuco for the Saints' first run of the season.

UC San Diego got on the board early, with a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring lead-off hitter Kendall Baker, for a 1-0 lead after one inning. The Tritons added to their lead in fourth on a RBI single, scoring two and two more in the sixth inning for a 5-0 lead.

In the final inning, with one out, Lauren Diuco walked and Lindsay Miller reached on a single up the middle. With runners on 1st and 2nd, Dettling, who drove in 27 runs last season, connected for a RBI double. After a pop-up to second, Nelson cleared the bases and drove in three runs to bring the tying run to the plate. However, Lauren Brown was able to finish the game on a ground ball to third and earn her first victory.

"Tough way to start the season. We had too many poor at-bats and defensive mistakes against a good team early in the game" said head coach Rick Noren. "It was a good comeback in the seventh, but we'll need to play better as we move forward".

At the top of the order, Diuco set the table, going 2-3, both doubles, with one run and one walk; while L. Miller tallied two hits and one run scored. Dettling finished with one hit for three RBIs and one walk. Nelson's only hit was her home run.

Nelson got the start in the circle for the Saints, going five innings, giving up 11 hits on four earned runs, striking out zero but walking zero as well. Lauren Maley came in for relief in the sixth, giving up one hit but stranding two important runners on third and second.

As a team, SMU recorded four runs on eight hits, walking three times and striking out six. The Saints left eight runners on-base and committed one error on 12 ground balls and five fly-outs.

The Tritons were led by Baker, 2-4 with one run and right-fielder Caitlyn Weisner, 2-3 with two RBIs and one run scored. Shortstop Maddy Lewis crossed the plate twice during her three hit performance.

Brown was tabbed as the opening day starter, going all seven innings, allowing four runs, all earned, on eight hits, walking three and punching out six.
Up Next: The Saints turn around quick, playing the second game of the day at 5 pm PST against Dominican University of California on the same field.