HAYWARD, Calif. - First baseman Richard Seigel hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning and scored the game-winning run in the eighth to lead UC San Diego to a 5-4 league victory over Cal State East Bay Friday at Pioneer Field.
UCSD improved to 7-10 overall and 5-4 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). With its sixth straight loss, East Bay dropped to 5-9 overall and remained winless in the league at 0-5.
With the game tied 4-4 heading into the eighth inning, the Tritons manufactured the eventual winning run as Seigel led off and reached base on a error by the Pioneers' first baseman. He stole second and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Garrett Tuck. Third baseman Jonah Northrop flied out to center field, deep enough to score Seigel, giving UCSD the 5-4 lead.
Triton starter Ryan Goodbrand, the NCBWA West Region Pitcher of the Week, took a no-decision as he gave up all four runs on five hits over six innings of work. Justin Burns (2-2) got the win after coming on to start the seventh and Tony York earned his second save of the season. Burns, Elias Tuma and York combined to toss three scoreless innings.
"I thought Ryan (Goodbrand) really battled through some defensive miscues and gave us a gutty performance," said UCSD head coach Eric Newman. "The bullpen really did a nice job of putting up zeroes and holding the score for us."
The Pioneers took a 2-0 lead in the third inning after a double and a bunt single put a pair of runners on with no outs. A passed ball and two ground outs moved the runners around the diamond to score.
The lead was short-lived as pinch hitter Gregg Ringold led off the top of the fourth with a double to left and designated hitter Nick La Face reached on a infield error. That set the table for Seigel, who blasted his second long ball of the season to put the Tritons up 3-2.
In the bottom half of the fourth, the Pioneers put two runners on with a single and a hit by pitch. Both runners advanced a base on a passed ball before being plated by a two-out double off the bat of second baseman Erik Rowen.
UC San Diego came from behind once again by scoring a single run in the fifth to knot the score at 4-4. With two outs, center fielder Danny Susdorf struck out, but reached first base on a passed ball. He stole second, his team-leading ninth swipe of the season, and scored when Ringold singled to left field.
East Bay out-hit UCSD 10-6 but left nine runners stranded on base. Rowen was 3-for-4 with a run and the two RBI while Hall and first baseman Andrew Woolfe each had two hits. Starter Bryce Miller (1-2) went eight innings, but took the loss as he surrendered all five runs (two earned) and six hits.
With a single in the fourth inning, Tuck extended his hit streak to 10 games.
The two teams play a doubleheader Saturday with game one starting at 11 a.m. The series wraps up with a single tilt on Sunday at 11 a.m.
- UCSDtritons.com -
