LA JOLLA, Calif. ? The 8th-ranked UC San Diego baseball team scored three runs in the seventh inning to break open a tie game and defeated 2nd-ranked Sonoma State 7-4 on Friday afternoon at Triton Baseball Field. With the win, UCSD (35-9, 19-6 California Collegiate Athletic Association) moves to within a game of first-place Sonoma State (35-6, 19-4 CCAA). Vance Albitz was one of three Tritons with three hits, adding two RBI. Tim Mort and Evan Kehoe also added three hits apiece. After a strong outing by Kirby St. John, Tim Shibuya (7-0) earned the win while Keith Noe saved his 12th of the year.
The Tritons were able to compile 14 hits off Sonoma State pitching, the top pitching staff in the CCAA. “We get the same effort from our guys, regardless of who we play,” said head coach Dan O'Brien. The UCSD vs. SSU series is also a battle of the top two teams in the NCAA West Region, as the Tritons were at No. 1, while the Seawolves were at No. 2 in the rankings released this past Thursday.
UCSD continues its streak to 10-0 this season, on games played on Friday.
In addition to the trio of Tritons with three hits apiece, Garrett Imeson went 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored.
SSU was led by Konrad Thieme with a 3-for-4 day, with two solo homeruns. Nick O'Brien (3-2) took the loss.
SSU's Dave Herman led off with a double and advanced to third on a passed ball. After Kris Haycock walked to put runners on the corners, Kirby St. John struck out the next Seawolf for the first out. Ian Bridges singled down the right field line for an RBI and SSU led 1-0. St. John retired the next two SSU batters without further damage.
SSU's Konrad Thieme homered, leading off the second for the 2-0 SSU lead.
Imeson and Mort led off the UCSD second with consecutive singles but were erased on a double play. With two on and two outs, Bonelli came through with the two out RBI, pulling UCSD within 2-1. Albitz followed with a triple to left field for two RBI and the Tritons pulled ahead 3-2.
In the SSU sixth, Bridges and Tyrese McDaniel reached to put runners on the corners with no outs. St. John got a double play on the next batter for two outs and SSU scored a run to tie the game at 3-3. Thieme homered to right, his second of the game and the Seawolves pulled ahead 4-3.
In the UCSD sixth, Tim Mort led off with a triple to center and scored on Nick Burke's RBI groundout to tie the game at 4-4.
Kehoe led off the UCSD seventh with a double to center. With one out, Imeson doubled to left for the go ahead RBI at 5-4 UCSD. Mort followed with an RBI single up the middle for the 6-4 lead. Burke followed with a single and advanced to second on the throw, putting runners on second and third with one out. Benton followed with a sac fly to center for an RBI, pushing the Tritons ahead 7-4.
Shibuya pitched a perfect seventh and eighth innings, striking out four and not allowing a baserunner. Noe earned the save, tying the school record for career saves with 12.
UCSD and Sonoma State return to action on Saturday with a doubleheader slated to begin at 12:00 p.m. at Triton Baseball Field.
