LA JOLLA, Calif. - The UC San Diego baseball team split a California Collegiate Athletic Association doubleheader with Cal Poly Pomona on Saturday at Triton Ballpark, losing game one by a final score of 9-3 before rebounding to take the nightcap, 4-3.
After allowing four unearned runs in a tough defeat earlier in the day, the Tritons battled back from deficits of 2-0 and 3-2 to claim the series finale and earn a split in the four-game set with the Broncos.
Shortshop Garrett Tuck drove in the tying run in the bottom of the sixth inning and pinch runner Spencer Frazier scored what proved the game-winner on a error by the CPP third baseman later in the frame.
Four different Tritons accounted for UCSD's four hits, including freshman catcher Brian Choi, who's first collegiate hit was a big one. Down 2-0 in the fifth, second baseman Sam Michaels singled before Choi came to the plate and drove a ball over the left field fence to tie the game up.
Cal Poly Pomona took the lead again with a single run in the top of the sixth, but UCSD proved resilient and came back in its half to score two more times. The first two batters of the inning reached base on a hit by pitch and a error by the Broncos' shortstop. With one out and runners on second and third, Tuck singled back up the middle, scoring Justin Rahn to knot the score again at 3-3. CPP committed another costly error in the infield, allowing Frazier to score from third, putting the Tritons up for good.
The top of the seventh and final inning was interesting as Bronco center fielder Jordan Whitman led off with a single to center. UCSD reliever Tony York then struck out first baseman Jenzen Torres looking for the first out. With designated hitter Chris Miller at the plate, Whitman attempted to steal second and was gunned down by Choi. However, the umpire called batter's interference on Miller and sent Whitman back to first base. Triton head coach Eric Newman came out to argue the call, prompting the umpire crew to gather and discuss the play. The final decision was that Miller was out due to the interference and Whitman was also out caught stealing, thus bringing an end to the game.
York picked up the win, his first of the season, as he tossed 1.2 scoreless innings and gave up just the one hit to Whitman. Starter Greg Selarz went four innings and let in two runs (one earned) on three hits. He struck out three and walked two.
Kevin Bosson (0-2) threw all six innings for Cal Poly Pomona and struck out seven Tritons while walking two.
In Saturday's first game, UCSD had a 3-0 lead after two innings, but CPP held the Tritons scoreless the rest of the way and plated five runs in the fifth inning. Torres had two doubles and Whitman hit a two-run home run in the third inning. The damage could have been worse, but the Broncos left 12 men stranded on base.
Four of the five CPP runs in the fifth were unearned due to a infield error.
Starter Justin Burns (1-2) suffered the loss, giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits over 4.1 innings.
Geoff Broussard improved to 4-0 by going 8.2 innings and giving up the three runs on seven hits while striking out eight.
Tuck, who has a nine-game hit streak going, had a pair of singles and a run batted in. For the series, the sophomore batted .600 with nine hits in 15 at-bats. He drove in five runs with at least one RBI in three of the four games.
UCSD's record now stands at 6-10 overall and 4-4 in CCAA play, while Cal Poly Pomona emerges from the series at 11-4 on the year and 4-4 in conference.
The Tritons play a four-game CCAA set at Cal State East Bay Mar. 2-4.
- UCSDtritons.com -
