LA JOLLA, Calif. - Junior Jeff Rauh got his first start on the mound since 2009 and made the most of it as he led the No. 3 UC San Diego baseball team to a 7-0 victory over Cal State Dominguez Hills in the tail end of a doubleheader Saturday. UCSD also won the opening game at Triton Ballpark by a score of 10-8.
With the pair of wins, UCSD upped its season record to 17-7 overall and 10-6 in the CCAA. Cal State Dominguez Hills, which defeated the Tritons twice in Carson Thursday and Friday, fell to 8-15 and 4-12.
A junior right-hander, it was the first win of Rauh's career. He went 5.2 scoreless innings and gave up seven hits while striking out a career-high seven batters and walking just one.
Rauh's only other career start came on May 2, 2009 against Cal Poly Pomona. He entered this season with just seven appearances and 7.1 total innings over 2009 and 2010. Prior to today's start, he had made five relief appearances and collected two saves for UCSD this year.
The Triton offense provided plenty of run support, scoring single runs in the first, second and sixth innings and exploding for four in the fifth.
Center fielder Danny Susdorf and shortstop Garrett Tuck both had two hits for UCSD in the game. Six different Tritons scored runs as Susdorf had two. Left fielder Evan Kehoe stroked a two-run triple to left center in UCSD's big fifth inning.
For the Toros, starter David Fair (1-3) suffered the loss. He lasted 3.2 innings and gave up two runs on five hits. CSUDH used five pitchers in the game.
At the plate, third baseman Jose Jauregui went 3-for-3 as the Toros left nine runners on base.
It was the third shutout of the season for the Tritons.
Game one featured a total of 23 hits, 12 by UCSD. Again the Tritons spread the offense around as eight players had at least one hit. Third baseman Matt Hubbard went 3-for-3 with a run and two RBI. Right fielder Kyle Saul also had a pair of RBI.
There were eight doubles hit in the game, five by Dominguez Hills.
Neither starter had a good outing. Triton Greg Selarz gave up six runs in 3.2 innings and counterpart Sean Wardour was responsible for five runs over three innings. Eric Abraham (1-0) took the win in just one inning of work and Justin Burns pitched four innings to get his first save. Michael Cruz (0-2) was saddled with the loss.
After three innings, Dominguez Hills held a 2-1 lead. The Toros hung a four-spot in the fourth to go up 6-1, but it didn't phase UCSD, which scored six runs of its own in the bottom half of the inning to go up 7-6. The teams traded runs in the fifth and the Tritons took a 10-7 lead with two runs in the seventh. The Toros threatened in the ninth inning. Center fielder Kevin Pillar led off with a double and moved to third on a balk. He scored on a ground out for CSUDH's eighth run. However, the next batter flew out and then Tuck made a highlight reel play at short to end the game. He ranged to his left on a ground ball and timed his dive perfectly to keep the ball from going into the outfield. He immediately sprung to his feet and fired a bullet to first base in time to get the runner.
After an off week for finals, UCSD returns to action Mar. 24-26 with a four-game series against Cal Poly Pomona.
- ucsdtritons.com -
