SEASIDE, Calif. - Tim Shibuya threw his first complete game of the season and improved to 4-0 as the No. 1 UC San Diego baseball team defeated Cal State Monterey Bay, 8-3, in the front end of a doubleheader Saturday. The Otters used a five-run fifth inning to down the Tritons, 5-3, in the nightcap.
Shibuya, the reigning NCBWA West Region and CCAA Pitcher of the Week, turned in another commanding performance, giving up the three runs and scattering five hits over his nine-inning stint. He struck out two and walked one while his most impressive statistic was the fact that he induced 16 ground ball outs. The Wyoming native retired the side in order in the first three innings.
The Triton defense was solid behind Shibuya, committing no errors for the first time in its last six games.
UC San Diego spread out its offense, scoring runs in five innings. Designated hitter Michael Benton and freshman shortstop Garrett Tuck both went 3-for-4 while left fielder Aaron Bauman and second baseman Blake Tagmyer each had two hits. Both of Tagmyer's were doubles. Third baseman Evan Kehoe and right fielder Kyle Saul drove in a pair of runs apiece.
The Tritons, who led 4-0 after six innings, swiped a season-high five bases in the victory. UCSD has stolen at least one base in 13 of 14 games.
Starter Aaron Appino (0-3) took the loss for the Otters after giving up four runs (three earned) on eight hits in seven innings of work. Third baseman Greg Fujii had two hits, including a triple, and was the lone Otter with multiple hits.
In game two, UCSD led 3-0 until Monterey Bay exploded for five runs in the bottom of the fifth. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases and a passed ball allowed the first run to score. An infield error, a two-run double and an RBI single led to CSUMB's other runs.
The Tritons threatened in their half of the ninth inning. Bauman drew a leadoff walk and Tagmyer singled to center. Shibuya came in to run for Tagmyer and advanced to second when Bauman was thrown out trying to steal third. With one out, Kehoe singled back up through the middle, getting Shibuya over to third. The rally and the game came to a close as catcher Kellen Lee grounded into a 6-4-3 double play.
Starter Scott Tully (1-0) threw a complete game to pick up his first win of the season. Tully gave up eight hits and struck out four.
For the third time in four starts, Guido Knudson (2-1) pitched seven innings. He gave up the five runs (three earned) on six hits and collected five strikeouts.
The Tritons out-hit the Otters, 8-6, in the second game. Seven players had at least one hit and Saul had two, both doubles. Center fielder Danny Susdorf drove in two runs.
Right fielder Alex Mangubat, who led off Monterey Bay's half of the fifth with a single, finished 2-for-3 with a run. Five different Otters scored runs. Catcher Tyler Young had the double that scored two runs in the fifth.
UCSD entered the series with a 19-4 advantage in all-time meetings, including a 9-2 mark in Seaside. Including the win in today's first game, UC San Diego had won the past nine match-ups prior to dropping game two. It was the first win for the Otters over the Tritons since May of 2008.
UCSD is 11-3 overall and 4-2 in CCAA play. Cal State Monterey Bay is 4-6 and 1-1.
"Good teams play solid baseball," started UCSD head coach Dan O'Brien. "Great teams play consistently solid baseball and we're simply not doing that."
The two teams will meet again in a second doubleheader Sunday starting at 10 a.m. Daniel Simmons (2-1) will go for UCSD in the first game and Greg Selarz (2-1) will take the hill in the series finale. Both games will be covered by Live Stats.
- ucsdtritons.com -
