LA JOLLA, Calif. ? The 12th-ranked UC San Diego baseball team earned a come-from-behind victory against 15th-ranked Chico State by a 5-4 score in California Collegiate Athletic Association action on Sunday. UCSD trailed 4-1 in the sixth, before scoring two in the bottom of the sixth and one in the seventh to tie the game. Tony Bonelli's sac fly RBI in the eighth gave the Tritons the lead and Keith Noe closed out the game for the save, his 11th of the year. With the win, UCSD improves to 34-9, 18-6 CCAA while Chico State drops to 28-12, 17-10 CCAA.
For the Tritons, Evan Kehoe and Garrett Imeson had two hits apiece. With two hits, Kehoe raised his average to .409 for the year. Imeson's two hits gives him 207 in his career, tying current assistant coach Chad Addison for sixth-place all-time at UCSD. Tony Bonelli had two RBI, while Tim Mort and Kehoe also drove in runs.
Tim Shibuya earned the win, pitching 2.1 scoreless innings, improving to 6-0.
Chico State had three players with two hits apiece in Joey Burke, Cody Dee and Shane Farmer.
CSUC's Joey Burke and Travis DeCoito led off the third inning with singles and advanced to second and third on a sac bunt by Josh Meagher. Cody Dee grounded out to second base for an RBI and the Wildcats had a 1-0 lead.
Nick Burke led off the UCSD fifth with a single up the middle and advanced to second on Tony Bonelli's groundout. Benton would reach on an error and Burke would score, tying the game at 1-1.
The Wildcats put runners on the corners with one out in the sixth. After a failed bunt attempt for the second out, Shane Farmer singled to shortstop for the 2-1 CSUC lead. Kyle Eveland singled to leftfield for an RBI and the Wildcats went ahead 3-1. Joey Burke followed with a single, driving in another run and CSUC led 4-1.
Kehoe led off the Triton sixth with a single to left. Imeson followed with a double to left center to put runners on second and third with no outs. Tim Mort grounded out for an RBI and UCSD was within 4-2. Tony Bonelli came up with the two-out RBI, bringing UCSD within 4-3.
In the UCSD seventh, Kehoe came through with the two out RBI single, tying the game at 4-4.
Mort led off the UCSD eighth with a double to the left center gap. Mort advanced to third on Burke's sac bunt. Bonelli came through with a sac fly to right for an RBI and UCSD had a 5-4 lead.
In the Chico State ninth, Noe came on and retired the side in order for the save.
UCSD is back in action on Friday, April 18 when it hosts CCAA first-place and No. 2 ranked Sonoma State. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. at Triton Baseball Field.
