LA JOLLA, Calif. ? Matt Cantele's pinch-hit two-run homerun deep over the center field batter's eye in the last half of the sixth inning helped the Tritons earn a split in Saturday's doubleheader at Triton Baseball Field. UCSD takes 2-of-3 over the weekend against the 13th-ranked Warriors. In the first game of the doubleheader, Jose Navarro pitched well, but late back-to-back CSUS homeruns were enough to give the Warriors a 3-1 win. In game two, Byron Grubman (3-3) pitched his second consecutive complete game and earned the win. Trailing 3-2 with a runner on in the sixth, Cantele hit his third pinch-hit homerun of the season to give UCSD the lead. The Tritons are now 16-11 while the Warriors are 17-9.
Game one featured three players getting thrown out at home plate on three different occasions in the battle of pitchers.
CSUS scored a run in the second inning with a leadoff walk, stolen base, sac bunt and wild pitch.
The Tritons looked like they would put something together with two outs in the fifth as Bryan Silverman was hit-by-pitch and Josh Tanner singled. Garrett Imeson then singled to the shortstop, deep behind the second base bag. After the throw to get Tanner at second base was too late, Silverman rounded third and headed for home. The throw was in time to get Silverman, ending the inning with UCSD still trailing 1-0.
Damian Fante lined a two-out double to right center in the sixth inning, driving in David Morehead to tie the game 1-1 in the sixth.
In the seventh, CSUS looked to be in business with a A.J. Valentine single and a UCSD error put runners on the corners with no outs. R.J. Roach then reached on a fielders' choice but with the infield drawn in, Morehead threw to the catcher Silverman to get the out at home. CSUS then attempted a double steal and the runner was gunned down at third base for the second out. The next Warriors batter grounded out to end the inning and the score still tied 1-1.
In the eighth inning, Dennis Wolfe and Pat McLaughlin hit back-to-back homeruns to give the Warriors the 3-1 lead.
The Tritons still had opportunities as they loaded the bases in the eighth inning with two outs but came up empty. UCSD put two on with two outs in the ninth but also could not get the runs home. The Tritons left 13 runners on base in the loss.
In game two, CSUS took a 2-0 lead through four innings. In the fifth inning, UCSD's Imeson singled and Morehead walked. With two outs, Scott Clement had an infield single to shortstop and the throw to possibly get an out at second base sailed over the second baseman's head, into foul territory, allowing both runners to score unearned runs. After five, it was tied 2-2.
UCSD could not produce a shutdown inning, but did limit the damage in the sixth. With a CSUS runner on third and one out, Valentine tripled into the right field corner, scoring the go-ahead run with still one out. Grubman then got a ground out with the infield in, forcing Valentine to remain at third. The next Warriors batter grounded out to shortstop to end the inning at 3-2 CSUS.
In UCSD's sixth, Tim Mort singled with one out and Matt Cantele came to the plate as a pinch-hitter, setting up his blast. It was Cantele's third pinch-hit homerun and fourth of the season as the Tritons went ahead 4-3.
In the seventh and final inning, Grubman continued to look strong in pitching his second complete game of the week. He ended the inning with a strikeout and two groundouts to the shortstop Josh Tanner.
UCSD is back in action against preseason CCAA favorite, Chico State on March 26-27. With doubleheaders on both days, the first pitch of the first game on both days is 11:00 a.m. at Triton Baseball Field.
