CHICO, Calif. - The seventh-ranked UC San Diego baseball team guaranteed it will be in first place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) standings after the weekend with a doubleheader sweep over No. 20 Chico State Saturday at Nettleton Stadium. Guido Knudson tossed a complete game for a 9-1 win in the opener and reliever Daniel Simmons shut down a late inning rally to give the Tritons a narrow 6-5 victory in the nightcap.
Following UCSD's 9-3 win in Friday night's opener, the teams were tied for first place in the CCAA entering Saturday's contests. The two wins gave the Tritons a two-game cushion in the league standings with one game left in the series. The Wildcats had had a stranglehold on the top spot for the better part of the last two months. With its 11th and 12th consecutive wins, UCSD improved to 33-12 overall and 24-11 (.686) in the CCAA. CSUC is now 27-13 and 21-12 (.636) in conference play.
Knudson improved to 7-3 by letting in just one run and scattering five hits while striking out four and walking none. He sat down the Wildcats in order in the second, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth innings. Knudson rolled through the ninth, inducing two ground ball outs and finishing it by striking out third baseman Adrian Bringas. The senior right hander has won his last four starts dating back to Apr. 9.
"Guido stepped up for us four weeks ago and has never looked back," said UCSD head coach Dan O'Brien. "He's been a true leader and I'm so proud of him for that."
After an uneventful first inning, things really picked up in the top of the second as the Tritons scored five runs, essentially sealing up the victory early. First baseman Blake Tagmyer led off with a double to right center, the first of two doubles he would hit in the game. He scored the game's first run when catcher Kellen Lee singled through the left side of the infield. Two more UCSD hits, a sacrifice fly, a hit batter and a walk helped the Tritons tally four more runs in the inning.
UCSD took a 6-0 lead with a single run in the fifth and upped its advantage to 7-0 with another run in the seventh. The Tritons added on two more in the eighth. Third baseman Evan Kehoe was hit by a pitch and moved to third when Lee doubled. Kehoe scored on a ground out and Lee ended up scoring on an infield error, putting UCSD up 9-0.
The Wildcats finally got a run in the bottom of the eighth. Designated hitter Ian McKay tripled, the first three bagger Knudson has given up all season and just the second of his career. Pinch hitter Phil Johnson drove in McKay with a double down the right field line.
Starter Ryan O'Shea (4-4) took the loss. For the second straight game, the Wildcats turned two doubles plays in the field.
Of UCSD's 10 hits, six were doubles. Tagmyer, Kehoe and Lee all finished with two hits. Shortstop Garrett Tuck drove in two runs.
In game two, a seven inning affair, UCSD led 6-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth. Chico rallied for two runs in its half, starting with two one-out base hits off of reliever Justin Burns, knocking him out of the game. Elias Tuma came on for the Tritons and promptly gave up a single to load the bases with just one out. Pinch hitter Shane Kroker then stroked the fourth straight hit for the Wildcats, scoring DH Justin Manci from third. Chico's second run scored when center fielder Cody Foster picked up an RBI on a fielder's choice, getting the Wildcats within one at 6-5. After Tuma walked the next batter to load the bases again, Simmons came on and wasted no time getting second baseman Jackson Evans to ground out to short.
After UCSD went down 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh, Simmons returned the favor, getting the Wildcats in order to end the game and pick up his first save of the season and the fourth of his career. Burns ended up getting the win and improving to 2-1 after giving up two runs on three hits in 2.2 innings. Starter Taylor Austin went just 2.2, surrendering three runs on four hits. He recorded two Ks and walked three.
Jordan Lindebaum (4-1) started for Chico State and suffered the first loss of his season. In 3.2 innings, he gave up four runs and seven hits while striking out four and walking one.
Left fielder Aaron Bauman had a double and two RBI, while Lee continued hitting, bashing his fourth home run to lead off the fourth inning and give UCSD a 4-3 lead.
Manci had three of Chico's nine hits.
UC San Diego played solid defense all day, committing no errors over the 16 innings.
"The guys deserve the reward of being in first place considering what they've been through and how they responded to a lot of early season adversity," said O'Brien.
The Tritons and Wildcats wrap up the series Sunday with a single game at 11 a.m. The game will be covered by a live online audio broadcast as well as live stats. UCSD will be looking for its second four-game CCAA sweep this season and third overall.
Following tomorrow's finalé, UCSD will wrap up the regular season with a four-game series against Cal State San Bernardino May 5-7. Chico State plays two against Cal State Stanislaus and four vs. Sonoma State. To view the complete CCAA standings, click here.
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