ROHNERT PARK, Calif. ?After dropping three consecutive one-run decisions, the 17th-ranked UC San Diego baseball team came through in extra innings to take the final game of the four-game set against Sonoma State on Sunday. UCSD lost the first game on Sunday by a 3-2 score. The Tritons got outstanding pitching from Trevor Decker and Guido Knudson in the secondgame, along with Matt Cantele's first homerun of the year and Robert Sedin's go-ahead RBI single to win the final game by a 3-2 score in eight innings. UCSD is now 11-7, 8-4 California Collegiate Athletic Association, while the Seawolves are 12-5, 5-5 CCAA.
In the first game, the Tritons got on the board first manufacturing a run. With two outs, Garrett Imeson singled and stole second. Evan Kehoe followed with an RBI single and the Tritons led 1-0.
With one out in the SSU third, Leo Avila hit an RBI single to tie the game. With two outs, the Seawolves would load the bases but Kirby St. John got the next SSU batter to strike out and the score remained tied.
In the SSU fourth, Kris Haycock came up with a two-out two RBI double to give the Seawolves a 3-1 lead.
Kellen Lee hit a solo homerun in the fifth to pull the Tritons within 3-2. UCSD could not come up with another run as the Tritons lost for the fourth straight game and third consecutive by one run to SSU.
In the second game, the teams would remain scoreless until Nick Geach homered to centerfield for UCSD's first run in the fifth.
SSU got a two out RBI single by Leo Avila to tie the game at 1-1.
In the UCSD sixth, Cantele homered to deep right field, his first of the year and UCSD led 2-1.
Kyle Jones answered Cantele's homerun in the sixth, tying the game at 2-2.
In the UCSD eighth, Albitz led off with a walk and Cantele was hit by a pitch. Imeson layed down a sac bunt and Brandon Gregorich was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out. Robert Sedin came through with an RBI single to right field on a two strike count, driving in Albitz to give UCSD a 3-2 lead. SSU would get out of the inning without more damage done.
Knudson finished off the Seawolves in the eighth, earning the win.
Cantele's homerun was his first of the season and 49th in his UCSD career. He is already the CCAA career homerun leader and is chasing the UCSD all-time career mark of 53 by Bob Natal.
UCSD is back in action next week when it hosts No. 1 Cal State Stanislaus. The first game is set for Friday with a 3:00 p.m. first pitch at Triton Baseball Field.
