LA JOLLA, Calif. ? The UC San Diego baseball team took advantage of an eight-run first inning and defeated Cal State Dominguez Hills 13-6 on Friday afternoon at Triton Baseball Field. UCSD tallied 15 hits, including three each by Matt Cantele, Garrett Imeson and Chris Franco. Franco, Bryan Silverman, Imeson and Cantele each drove in two RBI apiece. CSUDH did come back within 8-6, but UCSD's Nick Rodieck went the final five innings, pitching scoreless ball and improved to 2-0 on the season. The Tritons are now 23-11, 13-5 CCAA, while the Toros drop to 8-23-1, 4-14 CCAA. The series will conclude on Saturday with a doubleheader on the Cal State Dominguez Hills campus. First pitch is set for 11:00 a.m.
In the CSUDH first, Houston Hernandez singled and Cody Puckett doubled. Scott Moore then hit a sac fly to left, giving CSUDH a 1-0 lead.
In the UCSD first, Vance Albitz and Matt Cantele led off with back-to-back singles, while Matt Lawson walked to load the bases with no outs. Morehead was hit, driving in UCSD's first run and reloading the bases. Garrett Imeson then gournded out for an RBI and UCSD led 2-1. John Roth was hit to load the bases and a wild pitch scored UCSD's third run. Bryan Silverman then doubled to center, driving in two, giving UCSD a 5-1 lead. Chric Franco singled up the middle for an RBI, giving the Tritons a 6-1 lead. Cantele doubled to left, for two more RBI and UCSD took an 8-1 lead.
The Toros began to chip away by scoring three times in the third, two on a two-RBI single by Brian Sturges, making the score 8-4 UCSD.
In the CSUDH fourth, Hernandez doubled for an RBI, bringing the Toros within 8-5. Cody Puckett followed with an RBI double and the Toros were within 8-6.
In the UCSD sixth, Morehead was hit and Imeson doubled. John Roth singled for an RBI, pusing UCSD ahead 9-6. Chris Franco then singled for an RBI, giving UCSD a 10-6 lead.
In the Triton seventh, Imeson gave UCSD an 11-6 lead with an RBI.
UCSD added two more unearned runs in the eighth for the 13-6 score.
Nick Rodieck earned the win and retired the final 10 CSUDH batters.
