LA JOLLA, Calif. ? The UC San Diego baseball team defeated No. 5 Cal State L.A. 6-0, in the opener of a four-game series. With the game scoreless in the fifth inning, David Morehead delivered a sac fly for the games' first run. Later in the same inning, John Roth doubled down the left field line, giving UCSD a 4-0 lead. In the sixth, Matt Lawson doubled for two RBI and the runs were enough for UCSD. Daniel Simmons pitched the first six scoreless frames, earning the win, while Nick Rodieck pitched the final three for the save. With the win, UCSD improves to 34-19, 23-10 CCAA, while the Golden Eagles drop to 37-11-1, 25-8 CCAA.
After the Tritons got a runner to third with two outs in the second and third without scoring, CSULA put runners on first and second with one out in the fourth on a fielders choice and a Triton error. With two gone, a CSULA single through the right side followed and right fielder John Roth threw a strike to home plate to cut down the run, for the final out of the inning and the game remained scoreless.
Matt Cantele walked to lead off the UCSD fourth and Morehead reached on an error. The Tritons loaded the bases on CSULA's second error of the frame but an inning ending fielders choice kept the game at 0-0.
With two outs in the CSULA fifth, Henry Contreras doubled to right and Felipe Gallo followed with a single through the left side, putting runners on the corners. Daniel Simmons got the next CSULA batter on a fly ball to center, ending the threat.
In the UCSD fifth, Vance Albitz led off with a single and Matt Lawson followed with a bunt single. With one out, Cantele walked to load the bases. Morehead hit a sac fly to right field, driving in the first run of the game. Chris Franco followed with a two-out infield hit to shortstop, allowing Imeson to score for the 2-0 lead. John Roth then cleared the bases for two RBI with a double down the left field line for the 4-0 lead through five.
In the UCSD sixth, Jonathan Erickson and Albitz led off with back-to-back singles. Matt Lawson found the gap to left center, driving in two RBI and UCSD went ahead 6-0.
After Simmons exited with a shutout through six innings, Nick Rodieck pitched the final three innings, allowing one hit, earning his second save of the season.
Game two of the series will resume at Triton Baseball Field on Friday. It will be senior day for the Tritons, as they will honor their seniors in a short ceremony before the 3:00 p.m. first pitch. On Saturday, the series will move to Reeder Field for a doubleheader on the campus of Cal State L.A.
