LA JOLLA, Calif. - Byron Grubman's third consecutive complete-game victory evened the four-game series against 4th-ranked Chico State on Sunday. After dropping the first game 4-2, the Tritons came back to win the second game 5-1, powered by a four-run second inning. UCSD scored all four runs in the inning with two outs. The No. 24 ranked Tritons are now 17-12, 8-6 CCAA while the Wildcats are 21-7, 8-4 CCAA. In the first game, John Roth had three hits, while David Gomez and Jonathan Erickson added two apiece. UCSD loaded the bases in the ninth with one out, but left the bases juiced to end the game. In the second game, Garrett Imeson, David Morehead and Scott Clement all had multi-hit games.
Game One
Chico State got on the board first with a Chris Sweeney RBI double in the second inning. The Wildcats would strand two runners at the end of the second and led 1-0.
John Roth and Jonathan Erickson led off the bottom half of the second with singles. Cantele then flew out to leftfield and Roth was thrown out attempting to advance to third. The Tritons still trailed 1-0 after two innings.
A two out RBI by Joey Burke in the fifth inning gave CSUC the 2-0 lead.
CSUC added two runs in the sixth and led 4-0.
Damian Fante and John Roth led off the seventh with singles. Jonathan Erickson then singled through the right side, scoring Fante for the Tritons' first run.
The Tritons scored their second run on a double play to cut it down to 4-2 through seven.
The Tritons got a shutdown inning in the eight after a leadoff triple and a bases loaded situation with no runs scored.
In the UCSD eighth, David Gomez doubled with one out, but UCSD was unable to get the run in and trailed 4-2 into the ninth.
In the ninth with one out, Roth doubled off the third base bag to bring the tying run to the plate. Erickson was then hit-by-pitch to put the potential tying run on first with one out. Matt Cantele drew a walk to load the bases with still one gone. The next two Triton batters struck out, ending the game at 4-2 Chico State.
Game two
The Tritons got on the board first in the second game. With two outs, David Morehead drew a walk and Scott Clement tripled to right center, scoring Morehead for the 1-0 UCSD lead.
With two outs and two on in the second, Garrett Imeson lined a single through the right side, scoring Tim Mort. On the throw home, Imeson was safe at second as the throw to second from the catcher went into center field, allowing Josh Tanner to score an unearned run for the 3-0 UCSD lead. Damian Fante then singled to left field, scoing Imeson for the 4-0 lead. Clement then doubled to right center, scoring Fante to put UCSD ahead 5-0. UCSD scored four runs on five hits in the frame.
CSUC put the first two runners on in the third on a UCSD error and a single by James McCarthy. The next two CSUC batters hit into fielders choice's, with the Tritons cutting down the lead runner both times. The next Wildcat batter flew out to center, ending the threat as UCSD maintained a 5-0 lead.
Back-to-back doubles by Jerin Harper and Daniel Code gave CSUC its first run in the fourth inning. The Grubman and shortstop Tanner combo then picked off the runner on second for the first out of the inning. Grubman then retired the next two batters without further damage as UCSD led 5-1 in the fourth.
Grubman finished his third consecutive complete game allowing seven hits in seven innings. The Triton defense also produced two double plays. With three complete games this season, Grubman (15 cg's) moves closer to the all-time UCSD career record of 17 held by Rick Nowak.
UCSD is back in action tomorrow with a double header against Chico State with the first pitch of the first game slated for 11:00 a.m. at Triton Baseball Field.
