LOS ANGELES - For the third time this season, Tim Shibuya struck out a career-high 11 batters, but it wasn't quite enough as the No. 10 UC San Diego baseball team was nipped, 5-4, at CCAA opponent Cal State L.A. Thursday. It was the first of a four-game series.
UC San Diego dropped to 20-9 overall and 13-8 in CCAA play, while Cal State L.A. upped its marks to 18-11 and 13-8.
UCSD went up 1-0 in the first inning. With one out, right fielder Kyle Saul was hit by a pitch. A double down the left field line by center fielder Danny Susdorf moved Saul up to third and he was plated when left fielder Aaron Bauman grounded out to second.
Following a scoreless second inning, the bats came alive in the third as both UCSD and Cal State L.A. put up three runs. In the top half, the Tritons got a pair after a two-out, two-run double to left by Bauman. Infielder Evan Kehoe then plated Bauman with a single, putting UC San Diego up 4-0.
In the bottom half of the third, Shibuya retired the first two Golden Eagles, but the next four batters singled, leading to a pair of runs. The other run scored on an error by the UCSD infield, cutting the Triton lead to 4-3.
The Golden Eagles went on to score single runs in both the fifth and seventh innings. They tied the game up in the fifth as the first three batters reached base on singles. With the bases heavy, Shibuya hit batter Brian Compton with a pitch, scoring the runner at third and giving Compton a RBI. In the seventh, Cal State L.A. scored the eventual game-winning run when Compton came up with a two-out, RBI double.
UCSD put two runners on base in the eighth, but couldn't plate either one. Relief pitcher Jacob Valenzuela put down the side in order in the top of the ninth to pick up his third save of the season.
CSULA starter Wally Goodline (3-2) went seven strong, giving up four runs on seven hits. Valenzuela surrendered just one hit over his two innings.
Shibuya (6-2) went seven innings, surrendering five runs (four earned) on 11 hits in his second loss of the year. For the third time this season, he struck out 11 batters, his career high. He walked none, but the 11 hits were the most he's given up during his time at UCSD. He put down the Eagles in order in the second and fourth innings. Shibuya set his career high of 11 Ks against San Francisco State on Mar. 4. He matched it for the first time on Mar. 24 vs. Cal Poly Pomona.
Susdorf had two hits, both doubles, for UC San Diego. Catcher Kellen Lee also had two hits. Joe Park and Cliff Quick each had three hits and two runs for Cal State L.A.
"We simply didn't finish what we started," said UCSD head coach Dan O'Brien. "I give them (Cal State L.A.) credit for battling back, but we shouldn't have given them the opportunity."
After winning five straight games, UCSD has now lost two in a row.
The two teams play at Reeder Field in Los Angeles again Friday at 3 p.m. before coming to La Jolla's Triton Ballpark for a noon doubleheader on Saturday.
- ucsdtritons.com -
