SEASIDE, Calif. ? The UC San Diego baseball team swept a doubleheader on Sunday against Cal State Monterey Bay, winning all three games in the series. UCSD won the first game 7-6, scoring single runs in the eighth and ninth innings for the win. It was a two-out RBI double in the ninth inning by Bryan Silverman, pushing across the winning run for the Tritons. Matt Cantele homered while Garrett Imeson and Silverman had three hits apiece. UCSD put the results of the second game away early, hitting three homeruns in its 11-run first-inning. The Tritons would cruise to the 26-5 win. Cantele, Imeson and Chris Franco all homered in the first inning of the second game for UCSD. Of the Tritons 24 hits in the second game, 10 went for extra bases.
In the first game, a four-run CSUMB seventh inning gave the Otters a 6-5 lead.
In the eighth inning, UCSD took advantage of two CSUMB errors. While bunting runners over, Vance Albitz earned an RBI on a bunt, pulling the Tritons into a tie.
In the ninth inning, Imeson singled with one out and Silverman came through with a clutch double, driving in the go-ahead run with two-outs in the inning.
The Otters looked to have a rally going in the bottom of the ninth as CSUMB put the first two runners on second and third with no outs. After a ground out to shortstop held the runners, UCSD intentionally walked the next hitter to load the bases. The Tritons then got former Triton Brian Trump to ground out into a game-ending double play.
In the second game, the Tritons pounded out eight hits and three homeruns in the first frame, scoring 11 times. Nick Rodieck earned the win, pitching five solid innings.
The 26 runs put up by the Tritons is the most in a single game since UCSD put up 26 in a win over Redlands in 1998.
Matt Cantele now has 17 homeruns this season. The UCSD school-record is 18, held by Bob Natal.
The Tritons are now 28-14, 17-6 CCAA. UCSD is back in action next week with a four game series against Chico State. The teams will play a single game on Friday, a doubleheader on Saturday and a single game on Sunday. All games will be held on the Chico State campus.
