LA JOLLA, Calif. - The 10th-ranked UC San Diego baseball team split a doublheader with CCAA opponent Cal State L.A. Saturday at Triton Ballpark. UCSD won the opener, which featured 30 hits and 19 runs, by a score of 11-8. In the nightcap, the Tritons had two runners on in the seventh but fell short and lost, 3-1.
UCSD is now 21-11 overall and 14-10 in the CCAA, while Cal State L.A. is 20-12 and 15-9. The Golden Eagles received votes in the most recent Collegiate Baseball national poll.
In the first game, Cal State L.A. laid down 18 hits and UCSD banged out 12 as the squads combined for six doubles and three home runs. At least one run was scored in all but two innings and it could have been more as the Golden Eagles left 13 runners on base and the Tritons stranded eight.
UC San Diego went up 2-0 in the first inning, but CSULA scored three times in the the third to take the lead. However, the Tritons plated four in the bottom half of the third to take back the lead for good at 6-3.
After seven innings of play, UCSD held a 11-5 advantage. The Eagles scored twice in the eighth and once in the ninth. They loaded the bases in the ninth with three straight hits. A fielder's choice allowed a run to score, but the Tritons turned a game-ending double play to take the 11-8 victory.
Triton center fielder Danny Susdorf went 4-for-5, tying his career high for hits, with two runs scored and three RBI. Third baseman Matt Hubbard, first baseman Evan Kehoe and designated hitter Nick La Face had two hits apiece. Kehoe blasted his first home run of the season.
Senior left-hander Taylor Austin (1-0) got the win in a relief role. He gave up one run on one hit in 3.1 innings and struck out three. Starter Greg Selarz went 3.2 innings and let in four runs (three earned) on 10 hits.
For the Golden Eagles, starter Nathan Pickett (1-3) suffered the loss as he gave up five runs (two earned) and six hits in 2.1 innings.
Seven CSULA players had multiple hits. Second baseman Brian Moon and right fielder Cliff Quick each had three hits. Moon and catcher Chad Nacapoy both homered.
Both teams used four pitchers in the game, which lasted three hours and 28 minutes.
CSULA made four errors in the field and only six of UCSD's 11 runs were earned.
In a much tamer game two, Golden Eagle ace Gabriel Asakura improved to 5-0 as he gave up just one run on four hits over six innings. He struck out five and walked three. Jacob Valenzuela pitched a scoreless seventh inning to pick up his third save of the season.
The game stayed scoreless until CSULA took a 1-0 lead in the fourth. The Eagles scored two more in the top half of the fifth. UCSD got on the board with a single run in the sixth. In the bottom of the seventh, right fielder Kyle Saul drew a one-out walk. Susdorf followed with an infield single and the next batter struck out. The rally and the game ended as Saul was caught trying to steal third base.
Cal State L.A. out-hit UC San Diego in the second game as well, holding a 9-5 advantage.
Triton starter Jeff Rauh (1-2) gave up just one run over 3.2 innings, but had to come out of the game after getting hit in the right elbow with a come-backer. Reliever Justin Burns surrendered the other two Golden Eagle runs.
Susdorf and Kehoe each had two hits, accounting for four of UCSD's five. La Face had the other. All three Tritons have four-game hit streaks going.
Center fielder Joe Park and catcher Brian Compton both had a pair of hits for Cal State L.A.
CSULA won single games on Thursday and Friday in Los Angeles. It was the first time since March of 2009 that UCSD had dropped three games in a four-game CCAA series.
The Tritons will hit the road to play a four-game set at Sonoma State April 8-10.
- ucsdtritons.com -
