PALM SPRINGS, Calif. ? The 4th-ranked UC San Diego baseball team recorded 20 hits and scored in 8-of-9 innings in a 16-1 win over No. 12 Sonoma State, advancing to the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship game. Brandon Gregorich led the way going 4-for-5 with a double, homerun and six RBI. On the mound, Trevor Decker pitched a complete game, his second of the season, shutting down the Sonoma State offense. The Tritons improve to 35-12 on the season and will face the winner of Friday night's Cal State L.A. vs. Sonoma State game. The Championship game will be played at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday at Palm Springs Stadium.
Also hitting a homerun in the game for UCSD was Vance Albitz who went 4-for-7 with four RBI. Albitz' three-run homerun in the fifth inning, broke open a game in which the Seawolves only trailed by a 4-0 margin entering the fifth. UCSD would score six runs in the fifth to put the game out of reach.
Josh Tanner went 2-for-6 with two RBI, Matt Cantele went 2-for-5 with a run scored, Garrett Imeson reached base three times and scored three runs, Kellen Lee had two hits and Nick Burke had two doubles in two at-bats.
Decker finished the game going nine innings, allowing six hits, one run, walking none and striking out four. Decker moved into the team lead with his eighth win of the year.
In the UCSD first, Imeson reached second with two outs on a dropped fly ball by SSU. Gregorich made the Seawolves pay with an RBI single to left center and the Tritons led 1-0.
In the UCSD second, Sedin doubled to right center to put runners on second and third with one out. With two outs, the Tritons scored a run on a passed ball to lead 2-0.
In the UCSD third, Imeson led off with a double down the left field line and scored on Gregorich's RBI single to center for the 3-0 lead.
In the UCSD fourth, Albitz singled with one out and Tanner doubled to left for an RBI and UCSD led 4-0.
In the UCSD fifth, Matt Cantele, Tim Mort and Kellen Lee reached to load the bases with no outs. Sedin reached on a fielders choice RBI for the first out and UCSD had a 5-0 edge. Albitz broke the game open with a three-run homerun to left and UCSD had an 8-0 lead. With two outs, Gregorich homered to left for two more RBI and UCSD had 10 runs in the game.
Gregorich hit a two RBI double in the UCSD seventh for the 12-0 Triton lead.
In the UCSD eighth, Nick Burke hit a pinch hit double and would score on an Albitz single for the 13-0 score. Tanner hit an RBI fielders choice and UCSD had 14 runs.
In the ninth, Nick Burke hit his second double in as many at-bats, driving in Mort with an RBI and UCSD had its 15th run. UCSD added another run on an RBI fielders choice.
In the SSU ninth, Wright hit a solo homerun to right to end the shut out.
In the double elimination format, either SSU or Cal State L.A. must beat UCSD twice on Saturday for the CCAA championship. The Tritons need only one victory to claim their second-ever CCAA Tournament title.
