LA JOLLA, Calif. - Strong pitching and 11 hits led the UC San Diego baseball team to a 5-1 victory over No. 10 Chico State Sunday at Triton Ballpark. The win earned the Tritons a split in the four-game California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) series.
UCSD improved to 4-8 overall and 2-2 in the CCAA. Chico State dropped to 6-2 and 2-2.
The Triton offense scored single runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings and tacked on two insurance runs in the seventh to complement the impressive day on the mound.
UCSD starter Justin Burns (1-1) was solid through 6.2 innings, allowing just the one run on six hits. He struck out two, walked two and retired the side in order in the fifth and sixth innings. Burns was making his second career start after appearing twice in relief this season and 25 times in 2011.
The Triton bullpen picked up Burns in a big way as Trevor Scott and Tony York combined to keep the Wildcats hitless and scoreless over the final 2.1 innings. Scott replaced Burns with two outs in the seventh after he gave up a triple to shortstop T.J. Yasuhara. Scott promptly got the first batter he faced to fly out to end the inning. He ran himself into a jam in the eighth by hitting a batter and issuing a walk. With one out, York came on and bookended a wild pitch with two strikeouts to end the rally. York put Chico State down in order to finish the game and pick up his first career save.
At the plate, first baseman Richard Seigel and center fielder Danny Susdorf each had three hits for the Tritons. Susdorf ripped his third triple of the season in the third inning to drive in the game's first run in the form of second baseman Sam Michaels.
Seigel smacked UCSD's first home run of the season, taking a 1-0 pitch from Chico starter Luke Barker (1-1) over the right field wall to lead off the fourth inning and put UCSD up 2-0.
With two outs in the fifth inning, Susdorf singled and scored from first on a double off the left field wall by left fielder Justin Rahn. Susdorf also figured in the seventh inning scoring as he singled to left to drive in two runs.
Chico State scored its lone run in the fourth as Jordan Beck led off with a single. Burns retired the next two batters, but committed a balk by not coming set, allowing Beck to take second. On the next at-bat, Ben Manlove singled through the left side of the infield to score Beck.
Beck had two of the Wildcats' six hits.
For the second straight game, neither team committed an error in the field.
The Tritons play a home and home series against No. 24 Cal Poly Pomona this coming week. The Broncos will host single games on Feb. 23 and Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. and the teams will play a noon doubleheader in La Jolla on Feb. 25.
- UCSDtritons.com -
