LA JOLLA, Calif. ? The 9th-ranked UC San Diego baseball team jumped out to a 9-0 lead and defeated Cal Poly Pomona 10-5 on Thursday afternoon at Triton Baseball Field. It was the ninth time this season, and fourth in-a-row, where the Tritons have scored at least 10 runs. Tim Mort went 4-for-4 with four RBI, including a two-out bases-loaded double, driving in three runs in the third inning. Matt Rossman earned the win, improving to 4-0 on the season. UCSD improves to 14-3, 4-0 California Collegiate Athletic Association, while the Broncos drop to 3-9, 0-3 CCAA.
Rossman pitched the first 6.2 innings, allowing no runs. It was the final out of the seventh inning that Rossman struggled with as CPP scored five times. Nick Rodieck came on in relief to shut down the Broncos the rest of the way. Rodieck went the final 2.1 innings, allowing three hits and no runs.
In addition to Mort's four-hits, Chris Franco had three hits, while Vance Albitz had two hits. Matt Cantele added a solo homerun in the sixth inning.
In the UCSD second, Franco and Garrett Imeson led off with singles. With one out, Mort singled through the left side for an RBI. With two outs, Nick Burke doubled off the right field wall driving in two runs. Albitz would reach on an error as Burke would score and the Tritons led 4-0 through two.
With two outs in the UCSD third, Franco singled through the left side, while Imeson and Evan Kehoe both walked to load the bases. Mort then drove the first pitch to the right center gap, clearing the bases for three RBI, and the Tritons led 7-0.
With two outs in the UCSD fifth, Mort singled and Michael Benton doubled to right field, pushing the Triton lead to 8-1.
With two gone in the Triton sixth, Cantele homered to right center for the 9-0 lead.
CPP got on the board in the seventh inning with two outs as A.J. Cavaletto and John Daniels hit back-to-back homeruns and the score was 9-2 UCSD. CPP followed with two singles and a pinch-hit double by Jason Jordan and the Broncos were within 9-4. A single by Chris Brem pulled CPP within 9-5.
In the Triton eighth, Evan Domanic tripled off the center field wall. With one out, Franco hit a sac fly to right field for UCSD's 10th run.
UCSD is back in action on Friday afternoon against Cal Poly Pomona. First pitch is slated for 2:00 p.m. at Triton Baseball Field.
