LA JOLLA, Calif. - The UC San Diego baseball team fell to Cal State San Bernardino 9-1 on Friday afternoon at Triton Baseball Field.  The Tritons were unable to get to winning pitcher Douglas Brandt who pitched into the ninth inning.  UCSD kept it close, trailing 3-0 through eight, led by a strong pitching performance from Byron Grubman.  CSUSB broke through for six runs, four unearned in the ninth which put the game out of reach.  Scott Clement homered in the ninth for UCSD's run.  The loss drops the Tritons to 6-5, 0-2 CCAA while the Coyotes improve to 4-3, 2-0 CCAA.

In the first inning, Byron Grubman struck out the first two batters of the game.  Rego Nieto was then hit-by-pitch and Billy Ermert hit a homerun to right field for the 2-0 lead in the first.

In the CSUSB third, the Coyotes loaded the bases with one out, but Grubman pitched a double-play ball to end the inning with the Tritons still trailing 2-0.

Each team put up zeros until CSUSB's Brad Croxton homered to right field for the 3-0 lead.

In the seventh inning,   UCSD put two on with one out but could not produce any

runs.

CSUSB added an insurance run in the ninth on Croxton's RBI double in the gap to lead 4-0.  Billy Ermert hit a three-run homerun for the 9-0 lead.

Scott Clement got UCSD on the board in the ninth with a homerun to leftfield.   Tim Mort singled off the pitchers' glove for an infield hit.  John Roth followed with a single.  With one out, Garrett Imeson was hit-by-pitch, loading the bases.  UCSD then hit into a double play, its second of the game, ending the rally.

Douglas Brandt pitched the complete game for the win while Byron Grubman pitched seven strong innings but earned the loss.

UCSD is back in action on Saturday for a doubleheader at CSUSB.  First pitch is slated for 11:00 a.m. in San Bernardino, Calif.