LA JOLLA, Calif. ? The UC San Diego baseball team made it a four-game series sweep against Grand Canyon on Sunday afternoon at Triton Baseball Field. The Tritons defeated the Antelopes 9-4 with the help of a pair of three-run homeruns by Chris Franco and Matt Cantele. Franco, Garrett Imeson and Justin Bono each recorded multi-hit games, and Bono came within inches of hitting a homerun in the fourth inning. Tim Shibuya improved to 2-0, earning the win out of the bullpen. Eric Abraham recorded a key double-play in the sixth inning, when GCU had the go-ahead run on base. With the win, UCSD improves to 7-2, while the Antelopes drop to 1-7.
Vance Albitz extended his hitting streak to nine games, having hit safely in each game this season. The shortstop is hitting at a .400 clip at 12-for-30. Through nine games, UCSD's team pitching ERA stands at an even 3.00.
In the GCU first, the first four GCU batters reached and the Antelopes took a 2-0 lead.
In the UCSD third, Justin Bono delivered the Tritons' first hit and Nick Burke was hit to put two on. Albitz layed down the sac bunt and Matt Cantele grounded out to the right side for an RBI and UCSD was down 2-1. After a walk with two outs, Franco delivered on the first pitch, a three-run round tripper to left centerfield and the Tritons were ahead 4-2 through three.
With two on and no outs in the GCU fourth, Shibuya came on in relief and got the Tritons out of the inning without yielding a run.
With one out in the UCSD fifth, Garrett Imeson doubled to left, driving in Cantele for UCSD's fifth run.
In the GCU sixth, Tyler Bair hit a two-run homerun to rightfield, bringing GCU within 5-4. With two on and one out, Eric Abraham entered and got an inning-ending double play ball, keeping the Tritons ahead 5-4.
With one out in the sixth, Cantele hit a three-run homerun to leftfield, giving the Tritons an 8-4 lead. Tim Mort would follow with a triple to rightfield and would score on a wild pitch for UCSD's ninth run.
Keith Noe pitched the eighth inning, allowing one walk and striking out the side.
Nick Rodieck pitched the final two frames and allowed one hit and struck out one.
UCSD is back in action next weekend when it hosts Barry on Friday afternoon. First pitch is slated for a 2:00 p.m. start at Triton Baseball Field.
