LA JOLLA, Calif. ? The UC San Diego baseball team pounded out 18 hits but it was not enough as Cal State San Marcos defeated the Tritons by a 12-9 score on Tuesday afternoon at Triton Baseball Field. UCSD gave up six-runs in the second inning and trailed 8-1. UCSD came back to cut it to 8-6, but a grand slam homerun by Scott Shapiro sealed the win for the Cougars. Shapiro finished with two homeruns and eight RBI. For the Tritons, Tim Mort had four hits and an RBI, while John Roth and Matt Lawson added three hits apiece. UCSD is now 24-13, while Cal State San Marcos is 11-17. UCSD is back in action hosting Grand Canyon for two games. The teams will play a single game on Friday at 3:00 p.m. and a single game on Saturday at 11:00 a.m.
CSUSM scored an unearned run in the second inning to lead 1-0. Spencer Pardon then doubled in two more unearned runs, giving CSUSM a 3-0 lead. Scott Shapiro then homered, giving the Cougars a 6-0 advantage.
With two outs in the UCSD third, Matt Cantele hit an infield single and Matt Lawson doubled for an RBI and UCSD trailed 6-1.
CSUSM added two runs in the fourth to extend the lead to 8-1.
With two outs in the UCSD fourth, John Roth was hit and Chris Hom doubled for an RBI and the score was 8-2 CSUSM. Tim Mort then recorded a two-out RBI with a single up the middle and the Tritons trailed 8-3. An outfield error brought in UCSD's third run in the inning and UCSD trailed 8-4. Matt Cantele kept the rally going with a double to right center for an RBI and UCSD was within 8-5. Another CSUSM error gave the Tritons another run at 8-6 CSUSM.
CSUSM's Shapiro hit a grand slam in the sixth, and CSUSM was back ahead 12-6.
In the UCSD sixth, Mort and Vance Albitz led off with back-to-back singles. Mort then scored on a wild pitch and UCSD trailed 12-7. Chris Carl hit a sac fly RBI and UCSD was down 12-8.
With two outs in the UCSD seventh, Albitz singled for an RBI and UCSD was within 12-9.
UCSD would continue to get hits, but could not capitalize and the Cougars won the game 12-9.
UCSD and Grand Canyon play a two-game series beginning on Friday. The teams will play at 3:00 p.m. on Friday at Triton Baseball Field and finish the series with a single game on Saturday at 11:00 a.m.
