LA JOLLA, Calif. ? The 8th-ranked UC San Diego baseball team split a doubleheader with Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday afternoon at Triton Baseball Field. UCSD won the first game 11-1 behind Guido Knudson (6-4) pitching eight innings and allowing just one run. The Triton offense recorded 16 hits and homeruns by James Ferguson and Chris Franco. In the second game, CSUMB jumped out to a 7-1 lead en route to an 8-4 win. The Tritons brought the potential tying run to the plate in the sixth inning of the second game but could not capitalize. UCSD is now 41-13, 25-10 California Collegiate Athletic Association, while the Otters are now 16-35, 8-27 CCAA.
Ferguson became the 14th different Triton to hit a homerun this season. Franco hit his ninth homerun of the year, and is now within one of team-leader Matt Cantele.
In the first game, Vance Albitz and Franco had three hits apiece. Evan Kehoe, Michael Benton, Ferguson and Nick Burke had two hits apiece. Leading 4-0, the Tritons used a six-run sixth-inning to break open the game.
Knudson went 8.0 innings, scattered eight hits while striking out seven and walking just one.
In the second game, Burke was the only Triton to record multiple hits. Matt Rossman took the game two loss and dropped to 9-4 on the year.
With one out in the CSUMB second of the first game, the Otters put runners on the corners. Knudson got the second out on a fake to third throw to first pick-off. Knudson got the next batter on a strikeout looking to keep the game scoreless.
In the bottom of the second, Benton reached on a bunt single and Ferguson homered to right field, giving the Tritons a 2-0 lead.
Franco led off the UCSD fourth with a single and would score on Benton's one out double giving the Tritons the 3-0 edge.
In the UCSD fifth with two outs, Evan Kehoe singled through the left side for an RBI and the Tritons went ahead 4-0.
Imeson led off the UCSD sixth with a single through the left side and stole second. Benton perfected the sac bunt to move Imeson to third and he would score on a wild pitch, making the score 5-0 Tritons. UCSD would go on to load the bases on singles by Ferguson, Tony Bonelli and Nick Burke. Albitz came through with a single to center for two RBI and UCSD led 7-0. With runners on the corners, the Tritons perfected a double-steal as Albitz went to second and Burke scored the Tritons eighth run. Kehoe singled down the left field line, UCSD's sixth hit of the inning and fifth run of the frame to lead 9-0. Franco followed with a double off the center field wall for an RBI and the Tritons led 10-0.
CSUMB got on the board in the eighth inning as Brent Sargenti singled and Andy Marquardt doubled for an RBI.
Franco homered to left in the UCSD eighth, giving the Tritons the 11-1 lead and the final score.
In the second game, CSUMB put the first two runners on in the second game at second and third. With one out, Matt DeJesus hit a sac fly to give CSUMB a 1-0 lead.
Jayson Furia led off the CSUMB second with a solo homerun to right for the 2-0 lead.
In the UCSD second, Imeson walked and Ferguson just missed a homerun to right, doubling off the wall, driving in Imeson making the score 2-1.
In the CSUMB third, Matt DeJesus doubled to left for an RBI and the Otters led 3-1.
CSUMB put the first two runners on in the fourth inning. Rossman went on to get the next two outs on pop-outs. A UCSD error allowed two unearned runs to score and CSUMB jumped ahead 5-1.
With two outs in the UCSD fourth, the Tritons loaded the bases on a Bonelli single and two walks. The next Triton flied out to left, ending the inning with CSUMB on top 5-1.
DeJesus hit a two-run homerun in the fifth inning, giving the Otters a 7-1 lead.
Cantele led off the UCSD fifth with a single to center. With one out, Franco walked, followed by an Imeson walk to load the bases. Ferguson followed with a sac fly RBI to center, making the score 7-2.
Burke led off the UCSD sixth with a bloop single to center. Chris Hom reached on an infield single and a throwing error put runners on second and third with no outs. Albitz hit a sac fly to left and reached on the error, driving in Burke and the Tritons trailed 7-3. With still no outs and runners on second and third, Cantele walked to load the bases and bring the potential tying run to the plate. A double play ball scored a run for the Tritons, pulling UCSD within 7-4.
CSUMB added an insurance run in the seventh to lead 8-4 and the final.
UCSD and CSUMB return to the field on Sunday, with first pitch slated for 12:00 p.m. at Triton Baseball Field. UCSD's senior class will be honored in a brief ceremony before first-pitch.
