LA JOLLA, Calif. ? The 6th-ranked UC San Diego baseball team split a doubleheader against Cal State L.A. on Saturday afternoon at Triton Baseball Field. A two-run homerun by Evan Kehoe and a strong pitching performance by a trio of Tritons helped UCSD take game one 2-1. Kirby St. John (3-0) earned the win while Tim Shibuya pitched three shutout innings and Keith Noe earned the save. In game two, two CSULA homeruns gave the Golden Eagles a 6-0 lead and CSULA would cruise to the win. UCSD is now 19-5, 9-2 California Collegiate Athletic Association, while CSULA is 10-13, 5-6 CCAA.
In the first game, UCSD walked eight CSULA batters, but used three double-plays to help get out of threats. CSULA would strand 12 runners on base in the game. Vance Albitz struck out in his first at-bat, the first time the sophomore shortstop has struck out this year, a span of 80 at-bats. It was Noe's third save of the season. St. John went 5.0 innings, allowed one earned run and four hits.
With one out in the UCSD second, Imeson singled to left and Kehoe homered to right centerfield for the Tritons' 2-0 lead.
In the CSULA third, Tyler Warmerdam hit a two-out RBI single for CSULA's first run and UCSD led 2-1.
Chris Hom led off the UCSD sixth with a single, ending a streak of 11 straight retired by Dustin Birosak.
With two out in the seventh, CSULA had runners on the corners but Shibuya got the CSULA clean-up hitter to hit into a fielders choice, ending the inning with the Tritons still leading 2-1.
With one out in the UCSD seventh, Imeson tripled off the center field wall. The next two UCSD batters were retired and the score remained 2-1 UCSD.
CSULA put two on with one out in the eighth, but Shibuya got a double-play ball to end the inning.
In the Golden Eagles ninth inning, a leadoff walk and one-out single put two runners on. A passed ball would allow the runners to advance to second and third. The next CSULA batter hit into a fielders choice and the lead runner was out at the plate. With runners on the corners, Bono made a nice diving catch and throw for the final out of the inning and the Tritons had their 2-1 victory.
In the first inning of the second game, Henry Contreras hit a two-out RBI single to give the Golden Eagles a 1-0 lead.
In the CSULA second, Darrick Hale came through with a two-out RBI double for CSULA's second run.
In the CSULA third, Christian Ramirez hit a two-run homerun to rightfield for the 4-0 CSULA lead.
Hale hit a two-run homerun in the fourth to put CSULA up 6-0.
Matt Cantele led off the UCSD sixth with a double and scored the Tritons' first run on a Chris Franco single. James Ferguson followed with a double down the leftfield line to put two runners on with no outs. With one out, Josh Tanner hit a sac fly to right, making the score 6-2 CSULA, which would end up being the final.
John Mitchell of CSULA earned the win in game two, pitching a complete game.
