LA JOLLA, Calif. ? The UC San Diego baseball team swept a doubleheader in CCAA action against San Francisco State on Saturday afternoon at Triton Baseball Field. In the first game, Matt Cantele hit a grand slam, helping the Tritons to the 7-2 win. Daniel Simmons earned the win, pitching seven innings of two-hit ball. Simmons retired 16 straight during his outing. In the second game, Vance Albitz, John Roth and Buck Wright each had RBI's as UCSD held off the Gators 4-1. Tim Strombel earned the win in relief and Derek Barham earned saves in each game. UCSD and San Francisco State will play the series final on Sunday. First pitch is set for 11:00 a.m. at Triton Baseball Field.
Game 1
SFSU loaded the bases with one out in the second. James Kono hit a sac fly to right, giving the Gators a 1-0 lead. UCSD got out of the inning without further damage.
Garrett Imeson led off the Triton second with a single. With one out, John Roth singled to right, putting runners on the corners. Jonathan Erikson layed down a sac bunt for an RBI and with two outs, Vance Albitz singled through the left side for a two-out RBI, giving UCSD a 2-1 lead.
In the UCSD fourth, Roth led off with a single and advanced to second on Erickson's sac bunt. Albitz then doubled down the left field line for an RBI, pushing UCSD ahead 3-1.
With one out in the sixth, Erickson singled to right and Albitz reached on a bunt. David Morehead then walked to load the bases. Matt Cantele then hit the first pitch over the rightfield wall for a grand slam, breaking the game open at 7-1 UCSD.
Daniel Simmons exited after seven innings after allowing one run on two hits. Both hits came in the second inning as Simmons retired 16 straight Gators between innings two and seven.
SFSU did load the bases in the ninth and scored one. Derek Barham entered to record the final out, earning the save as the potential tying run reached the on-deck circle.
Game 2
SFSU scored in the first on an RBI single by Derek Simper.
With one out in the UCSD second, Imeson singled and stole second. With two outs, Roth came through with a single through the right side, driving in Imeson and tying the game at 1-1.
In the SFSU fourth, Larry Lewis led off with a double and advanced to third on a ground out. The next SFSU batter then popped up on a squeeze play and the Tritons doubled up the runner on third for a double play and the score remained tied at 1-1.
With one out in the UCSD fourth, Morehead reached on an infield single and advanced to second on the overthrow error. Morehead then advanced to third on a wild pitch. UCSD's next two batters could not get the run home and the score remained even through four.
Roth led off the fifth and reached on an error. Roth advanced to second on Erickson's sac bunt. Buck Wright came through with the go-ahead double, driving in Roth, giving UCSD a 2-1 lead. Vance Albitz then singled up the middle for UCSD's second RBI of the inning for the 3-1 edge.
Morehead led off the sixth with a single and stole second. Morehead advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch for the 4-1 lead.
Derek Barham came in to retire the side in the seventh, earning his second save of the day.
