SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. ? The UC San Diego baseball team used a three-run third and a five-run fifth to defeat Cal State San Bernardino 9-6 in the first game of a four-game series on Thursday afternoon at Arrowhead Credit Union Park.  Matt Cantele and Jonathan Erickson homered for UCSD, while Kirby St. John went five innings, allowing two runs for the win.  Cantele and Matt Lawson had three-hits apiece, while Garrett Imeson and John Roth had two hits apiece.  Nick Rodieck pitched the final 3.1 innings to earn the save, allowing no earned runs.  With the win, UCSD improves to 17-8, 9-4 California Collegiate Athletic Association, while the Coyotes drop to 15-9, 11-6 CCAA. 

In the UCSD third, Vance Albitz doubled, but was thrown out at third, going for the triple.  Cantele, Lawson and Morehead hit consecutive singles to load the bases.  UCSD scored its first run on a wild pitch and Garrett Imeson hit a two-RBI single to give UCSD a 3-0 lead.

In the top of the fifth, Lawson led off with a single, but was picked off first.  John Roth had a two-RBI single and Erickson had a two-run homerun to go along with Cantele's RBI single.  UCSD led 8-0 through four and a half. 

Cantele hit his ninth homerun of the season in the eighth inning, giving UCSD a 9-5 lead.

St. John improves to 4-2 on the season.

UCSD is back in action on Friday, March 16 when it returns to Arrowhead Credit Union Park to face CSUSB.  First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.