LA JOLLA, Calif. ? The 16th-ranked UC San Diego baseball team pounded out 15 hits and used a seven-run seventh inning to defeat Cal State San Bernardino 13-5 on Thursday afternoon at Triton Baseball Field. Justin Bono hit a grand-slam and Nick Burke hit a two-run homerun in the UCSD seventh. Chris Franco went 4-for-5 with a homerun, double and three RBI. Matt Rossman pitched five-innings for the win to improve to 3-0 on the season. Tim Shibuya and Tim Strombel limited CSUSB to no runs in relief. With the win, UCSD improves to 11-3, 1-0 CCAA, while the Coyotes drop to 8-4, 0-1 CCAA.
In addition to Franco's four hits, Burke finished with three hits while Tim Mort recorded two hits. Garrett Imeson stole two bases and went 1-for-3.
The Coyotes got on the board first in the third inning on an RBI single by Brent Plank for the 1-0 lead.
In the UCSD fourth, Matt Cantele and Franco led off with back-to-back singles. Imeson followed with a single to load the bases with no outs. Evan Kehoe flew out to deep right centerfield, which resulted in two RBI as the CSUSB centerfield crashed into the wall for the out and UCSD pulled in front 2-1.
In the UCSD fifth, Burke led off with a double to center and Albitz followed with an RBI double for the 3-1 lead. Mort followed with an infield single to put runners on the corners with still none out. Cantele recorded an RBI on a groundout and the Tritons were ahead 4-1. Franco followed with a first-pitch two-run homerun to rightfield, and the Tritons led 6-1.
The Coyotes started the sixth with three consecutive singles to load the bases. Jason Klug followed with a bases clearing double, bringing CSUSB within two. Chris LeFay brought the Coyotes within 6-5 with another double.
In the UCSD seventh, Cantele walked and Franco doubled off the centerfield wall. Imeson was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. With one gone, Bono hit a grand slam to leftfield, breaking the game open and giving UCSD a five-run lead. After a Michael Benton bunt single, Burke followed with a two-run homerun just inside the leftfield foul pole and the Tritons were ahead 12-5. The Tritons tacked on one more run on Franco's second hit of the inning.
UCSD is back in action on Friday against the Coyotes. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. at Triton Baseball Field.
