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GAME NOTES VS. SANTA CLARA (PDF)
SAN DIEGO — San Diego Softball (16-20, 3-3 WCC) hits the road again this weekend for a three game West Coast Conference series with Santa Clara (19-18, 4-2 WCC) at the Santa Clara Softball Stadium.
First pitch opposite the Broncos this weekend in the opener is set for Friday at 6:00 PM. The Toreros return to the diamond on Saturday for the middle game at 1:00 PM, before closing out the series with SCU on Sunday at 12:00 PM.
All three games will be streamed live on ESPN+, and live statistics available for all games on USDToreros.com.
ALL TIME SERIES AGAINST SCU
• San Diego leads Santa Clara 70-68 in the all-time series, with the programs having met most recently in April 2025 when the Broncos swept a three-game series in San Diego.
• USD holds a 37-23 record in games played in Santa Clara, but is 28-34 in games played in San Diego, and 5-11 in neutral site matchups.
• USD took two of four in their most recent series in Santa Clara in May 2024, winning games two and three before dropping the finale.
LAST TIME OUT — LMU / UTAH TECH
San Diego hosted LMU last week for a three-game WCC series, taking two of three, before dropping a midweek non-conference contest to Utah Tech.
4/2 vs. LMU (W, 6-3): The Toreros opened the series with a six-run third inning, capped by Taylor Johnson’s three-run home run, to defeat the Lions 6-3. Kaitlyn Bartlow earned the win with five scoreless innings, and Charlie Johnson closed it out with 1.1 innings of relief to record her third save of the season.
4/3 vs. LMU (W, 3-2): San Diego rallied in the fifth inning — an RBI double from Kaylee Oh, an RBI single from Abrielle Diaz, and a go-ahead RBI single from Janae Combs provided all three runs — to defeat LMU 3-2 and take the series. Charlie Johnson earned the win with 3.2 innings of one-run ball.
4/4 vs. LMU (L, 6-11): LMU plated six runs in the first inning and held on to take the series finale 11-6. Michelle Delgado and Taylor Johnson homered back-to-back in the bottom of the first, and the Toreros rallied to within three in the fourth, but couldn’t complete the comeback.
4/6 vs. Utah Tech (L, 9-11): San Diego jumped out to a 7-3 lead after two innings — fueled by an RBI double from Johnson, a two-run single from Diaz, and RBI singles from Oh and Combs — but Utah Tech answered with a six-run third, aided by two errors, to take the lead for good. Oh went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and Diaz drove in three.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
#1 Kaitlyn Wynia | OF | Junior | Torrance, CA | Torrance High School
The Torrance, California native leads the team in batting average (.333), Total hits (39), and on base percentage (.371), slugging .402 with 14 RBIs, 18 runs scored, and a .773 OPS through all 36 games. With just 10 strikeouts in 177 at-bats, she remains the most disciplined contact hitter in the USD lineup.
Wynia announced herself immediately, going 2-for-2 in the season opener at UC Davis (Feb. 6) and following with a 3-for-4 performance with an RBI vs. Colorado State (Feb. 7). She doubled and drove in a run vs. Weber State (Feb. 12) and posted her best game of the non-conference schedule vs. Kansas City (Feb. 28), going 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI. She carried that production into the USD/SDSU Co-Host Tournament, going 3-for-5 with a double and three RBI in the 11-10 thriller against Princeton (Mar. 7), and hit .500 (5-for-10) across three games against Idaho State without striking out once. Most recently, she delivered a two-run double in the fourth inning of Sunday’s series finale at Oregon State to push the Toreros’ lead to 7-1.
Last season (2025): Hit .328 with 9 RBI in 38 games; led USD in batting average; on-base percentage of .391 ranked 23rd across the WCC.
#20 Mallory Axline | INF | Sophomore | San Diego, CA | Cathedral Catholic High School
The sophomore has emerged as one of USD’s most reliable run producers, batting .320 (31-for-97) with three triples and 14 RBIs through 31 games played. She has remained remarkably consistent at the plate, holding the Toreros longest hit streak count of the season at 11. She is currently on a four game hit streak, and has recorded a hit in 20 of her last 22 games.
Axline delivered a three-RBI triple vs. Cal Poly and went 2-for-3 with an RBI against Notre Dame and 2-for-4 with two RBI against Grand Canyon in the USD/SDSU Co-Host Tournament. She drove in a run in game two of the Idaho State doubleheader to help fuel USD’s two-out seventh-inning rally, and delivered an RBI single in the LMU series opener to help ignite the six-run third inning.
#10 Shawnese Hogue-Lacy | C | Senior | Fairfield, CA | Vanden High School
The Fairfield, California native leads the team with 18 RBIs, batting .248 (26-for-108) with three doubles, two triples, four home runs, and a .710 OPS through 34 games.
Hogue-Lacy has been at her best in the biggest moments. She delivered a two-run homer vs. Kansas City and put together her best single-game performance against Princeton, going 3-for-3 with a double, a triple, and three RBI in a 6-1 USD win. She closed out the Oregon State series with home runs in three consecutive games, finishing the series with five RBIs in three games. Most recently, she singled and scored twice against Utah Tech.
#9 Kaylee Oh | OF | Junior | Murrieta, CA | Murrieta Mesa High School / Miami (OH) / Oregon State
The junior outfielder has been one of the steadiest contributors in the USD lineup, batting .289 (28-for-97) with 15 RBIs, 18 runs scored, a team leading seven total walks, and a .694 OPS through 35 games.
Oh has consistently delivered in key spots throughout the season. She drove in a run with an RBI single vs. Weber State and went 3-for-4 in the Sacramento State series finale. She homered in the Oregon State series opener, delivered a two-run single in game two to push the Toreros’ lead to 6-3, and doubled home a run in the fifth inning to ignite the game-two win against LMU. Most recently, she went 3-for-4 with three runs scored against Utah Tech.
#14 Taylor Johnson | UT | Senior | Seal Beach, CA | Los Alamitos High School
The 2024 WCC Batting Champion has been San Diego’s most consistent power threat, batting .265 (26-for-98) with a team leading nine doubles and five home runs, 18 RBIs, and a .874 OPS through 35 games.
Johnson has been at her best in the biggest spots. She launched a three-run home run to cap the six-run third inning in the LMU series opener, then went back-to-back with Michelle Delgado in the first inning of the series finale. Her five home runs leads the team, and her .874 OPS is the highest on the roster. Most recently, she drove in a run with an RBI double against Utah Tech.
#4 Kaitlyn Bartlow | RHP | Junior | Westlake Village, CA | Westlake High School
Bartlow has been one of the most reliable arms on the staff, posting a 5-5 record and a 3.83 ERA across 20 appearances and nine starts with two saves in 71.1 innings.
She delivered a complete-game shutout vs. Montana, earned the win with 6.1 innings of one-run ball vs. Kansas City, and went the distance against nationally-ranked Grand Canyon. Most recently, she earned the win in the LMU series opener with five scoreless innings, allowing five hits and striking out two while working around traffic throughout.
#21 Charlie Johnson | RHP | Senior | San Diego, CA | Del Norte High School / Sonoma State
The San Diego native has been one of the most reliable arms out of the USD bullpen, posting a 7-8 record and 3.15 ERA across 25 appearances and 12 starts with three saves in 91.0 innings.
Johnson earned a win and a save in San Diego’s two victories over LMU, serving as the steadying force in both games. In the series opener, she entered in relief and worked 1.1 scoreless innings to close out the 6-3 win and record her third save of the season. She returned Friday as the starter in game two, working 3.2 innings and allowing just one earned run while striking out two and inducing a key double play to earn the win in the 3-2 victory. Over her two outings in the series wins, Johnson allowed just one earned run across 5.0 innings pitched.
KELSEY TADLOCK NAMED WCC PITCHER OF THE WEEK
San Diego left handed pitcher Kelsey Tadlock was named the WCC Pitcher of the Week for March 23, 2026, the West Coast Conference announced on Monday morning.
Tadlock was at her best when it mattered most during the Toreros’ series at Sacramento State, allowing just one earned run across 6.2 innings and two appearances in the circle. The senior lefty opened the series with a scoreless inning of relief in the Saturday opener before returning to the circle Sunday to start the series finale, holding the Hornets to one run on four hits across 5.2 innings before earning the win in a 3-2 eight-inning victory that closed out non-conference play.
This is USD’s first weekly conference award since April 14, 2025, when Joecellia Roberts and McKenna Braegelmann swept the weekly awards with Player and Pitcher of the Week honors, respectively.
USD PICKED SIXTH IN 2025 WCC PRESEASON POLL
• San Diego was picked sixth in the WCC Coaches Preseason Poll the West Coast Conference announced on Wednesday afternoon as part of its 2026 Softball Preseason Honors.
• USD took home the sixth spot in the league’s 2026 poll with 11 points, putting it four points ahead of Portland, which was picked seventh. San Diego placed fifth in the poll in 2025 and was tied for second in 2024.
2026 WCC SOFTBALL COACHES PRESEASON POLL
1. Santa Clara – 36 points (6)
2. Saint Mary’s – 31 points (1)
3. Oregon State – 22 points
4. LMU – 21 points
5. Seattle U – 19 points
6. San Diego – 11 points
7. Pacific – 7 points
2026 WCC SOFTBALL PRESEASON TEAM (POSITION PLAYERS)
• Amanda Bricker, Pacific
• Sam Buckley, Saint Mary’s
• Taryn Clements, Santa Clara
• Cairah Curran, Santa Clara
• Taylor Fitch, Seattle U
• Hazyl Gray, Santa Clara
• Izzy Jamgotchian, LMU
• Justine Lambert, LMU
• Jada Lewis, Oregon State
• Mikee Morris, Seattle U
• Olivia Silvestre, Pacific
• Karen Spadafora, Seattle U
2026 WCC SOFTBALL PRESEASON TEAM (PITCHERS)
• Cari Ferguson, Santa Clara
• Mia Nishikawa, Saint Mary’s
• Berkley Vance, Seattle U
• Odhi Vasquez, Saint Mary’s
PROVEN RETURNERS
#1 Kaitlyn Wynia | OF | JR | Torrance, CA | Torrance High School
• Appeared and started in 38 of her team’s games in 2025 as a sophomore
• Hit for a slash line of .328/.391/.379 with 9 RBI; led USD in batting average
• Totaled 11 multi-hit games last season, notching three in one game on three occasions
• With more walks (11) than strikeouts on the season, her on-base percentage of .391 was third on the team and 23rd across the WCC
#14 Taylor Johnson | UT | SR | Seal Beach, CA | Los Alamitos High School
• Appeared in 47 games and started in 45 as the team’s primary first baseman in 2025
• Posted a slash line of .321/.400/.575, and led the team in slugging with a percentage of .575, aided by her seven doubles and team-leading nine home runs and 37 RBI
• Was the 2024 WCC Batting Champion and a 2024 WCC First Team selection as a sophomore in 2024
#5 Michelle Delgado | INF | JR | Santa Ana, CA | Segerstrom High School
• Appeared and started in 45 games as the team’s primary third baseman in 2025
• Posted a slash line of .318/.396/.409, and her .805 OPS was second best on the team, along with her SLG at third best and OBP at second best
• Led the team in assists with 84 and had a fielding percentage of .976 at the hot corner
#10 Shawnese Hogue-Lacy | C/UT | SR | Fairfield, CA | Vanden High School
• Appeared in 36 games and started in 33 as the team’s primary catcher in 2025
• Broke out by posting a slash line of .313/.340/.434, boosted by six total extra base hits on the season, hitting two doubles, two triples, and two home runs, along with six RBI
• Had a fielding percentage of .975, making only four errors in 160 chances and threw out six runners attempting to steal a base
#6 Kelsey Tadlock | LHP | SR | San Marcos, CA | San Marcos High School
• Pitched in 33 games and started in 13 in 2025
• Threw a team leading four complete games amassing 105 innings pitched
• Struck out a team-high 87 batters while accumulating a 3.47 ERA
WORKING THE PORTAL
• San Diego picked up a pair of transfers in the portal this season from Miami (OH), and Sonoma State.
Those players are:
#9 Kaylee Oh | OF | JR | Miami (OH) | Oregon State
• Oh, a Murrieta, California native, heads to USD after spending her Sophomore year at Miami (OH), and her freshman season at Oregon State.
• Oh excelled during the 2025 season competing for Miami (OH) as she started in all 61 of her team’s games and was selected to the MAC All-Tournament team.
• Providing a great spark at the top of the lineup, she posted a .307 batting average to go along with six home runs and 32 RBIs while also showcasing her speed with 17 stolen bases.
• Her time with the RedHawks featured numerous highlights including her first collegiate home run against Georgia State, 15 multi-hit games, a three-hit performance against Ball State in the MAC Tournament and a pair of hits in a victory over North Carolina in the 2025 NCAA Regionals.
#21 Charlie Johnson | RHP | SR | Sonoma State
• Johnson, a San Diego native who attended nearby Del Norte High School, comes to the Toreros after spending the last three seasons competing for Division II Sonoma State in the Bay Area, where she made 94 career appearances, posting a 37-23 overall record to go along with a microscopic 1.86 ERA in 388.2 innings.
• During her time at Sonoma State she earned five CCAA Pitcher of the Week awards and was a First Team All-Region and All-Conference honoree during the 2025 season.
• Not afraid to pitch deep into games, Johnson threw 23 complete games in 29 starts during her junior season at Sonoma State. Pitching in relief in her final appearance this last season, Johnson kept her team in the game by throwing 5.1 innings and allowing just one unearned run against Concordia.
RISING TOREROS
• Head coach MJ Knighten brought in six first-year players as part of USD’s 2025 freshman class.
Those players are:
#7 Liliana Esparza | UT | Las Vegas, NV | Green Valley High School
• Played for head coach AJ Coleman and Green Valley High School and for Ken Briggs on the BSC Bengals 18U club team
• Two-time Nevada 5A state champion (2021 and 2022)
• Also played basketball, soccer, volleyball and flag football
#12 Seleny Chavez | UT | Nipomo, CA | St. Joseph High School
• Played for head coach Anthony Razo at St. Joseph High School and for Rob Weil on the Wildcats Fastpitch club team
• 2024 All CSO First Team selection, 2024 CIF Central Section champions
• Grew up in a small farming community and was raised and shaped by the legacy of her parents and grandparents as strawberry farmers
#22 Adiah Fountain | C/UT | Northridge, CA | Notre Dame High School
• Played for head coach Justin Siegel at Notre Dame High School and for Ray Gurule at the BSC Bengals Gurule club team
• Clubbed 34 home runs during her high school career and posted a 1.75 catcher pop time
#23 Analesse “Peanut” Garcia | RHP | Chula Vista, CA | Mater Dei HS
• Played for head coach Liz Centrullo at Mater Dei High School and for Bobby Labs on the Breakers Lab 18U Gold Bobby club team
• Her last two years of high school she posted a 14-3 record a 1.58 ERA and 99 strikeouts
• Is related to San Diego Padres pitching coach Ruben Niebla
#25 Ava Rojas | OF | Benicia, CA | Benicia High School
• Played for head coach Kristen Grubbs at Benicia HS and for the Lady Magic club team under head coach Steve Walling
• Four year varsity player at Benicia HS and has played for her travel ball team since she was seven years old
• Has two older cousins, Madison and Aysle Rojas who played softball at UC Davis
#26 Abrielle Diaz | INF | Riverside, CA | Grand Terrace High School
• Competed at Grand Terrace High School and for the California Lite 18U club team
• Four year varsity softball player and served as team captain her senior year
• Posted a .431 batting average her junior season
HOMETOWN HEROES
• Eight players on the 2026 USD roster hail from the San Diego area and attended local high schools.
Those players are:
• INF Hailey Mulligan | San Diego, CA | El Capitan High School
• LHP Kelsey Tadlock | San Marcos, CA | San Marcos High School
• LHP Alex Riggs | San Diego, CA | Academy of Our Lady of Peace
• OF Dalia Powell | San Diego, CA | University City High School
• UT Mallory Axline | San Diego, CA | Cathedral Catholic High School
• RHP Charlie Johnson | San Diego, CA | Del Norte High School
• RHP Analesse “Peanut” Garcia | Chula Vista, CA | Mater Dei High School
• P/UT Emma Giaime | San Diego, CA | Del Norte High School
2026 SCHEDULE NOTES:
• 51 games
• 28 home games
• 22 away games
• 18 WCC games
• 33 non-conference games
• 9 home WCC games
• 9 away WCC games
• 19 home non-conference games
• 6 away non-conference games
• 8 neutral-site games
• 43 games in California
• 28 games in San Diego
• 5 games in Arizona
• 3 games in Oregon