LA JOLLA, Calif. - The 26th-ranked UC San Diego baseball team scored seven runs, all unearned, to break open a close game in the sixth inning and went on to a 10-1 exhibition victory over San Diego Christian College at Triton Ballpark on Tuesday.
Nine of the Tritons' 10 runs were unearned on the night as the visiting Hawks were charged with four errors, two of them early in that decisive sixth, when UCSD sent 12 men to the plate.
Redshirt junior centerfielder Brandon Shirley stuffed the box score, finishing 2-for-4 with a double, two walks, two runs scored, one RBI and a stolen base.
John Erhardt, a redshirt sophomore right-hander, drew the start and went his scheduled three innings in shutout fashion. He retired the first eight he faced, including a seven-pitch second on three pop flies, before back-to-back two-out singles in the third. With runners at the corners, Erhardt got Justin Distefano to swing through to end the threat, for his second punchout.K
"I thought the pitching was really good," said UCSD head coach Eric Newman. "John set the tone early on. He showed a lot of development and growth as a pitcher tonight. He showed three pitches, good tempo, tons of strikes, ground balls early in the count, and a lot of contact early. He just really showed his progression and growth as a pitcher over the course of his time here, even from the fall to now. It's what makes John such a great teammate, and such a great example of what you can become if you really commit yourself to getting better."
In the midst of that top of the third, junior Tyler Howsley aided Erhardt's cause with an incredible defensive play for the second out. Arguably one of the finest defensive shortstops in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, if not the entire West Region and beyond in Division II, Howsley ranged deep behind the second-base bag before throwing a dart to Tyler Durna and robbing counterpart Steven Pico. He almost duplicated the play on the very next batter, but his throw was just a touch high of Durna as Joshua Sidley beat it out. It was ruled an infield single.
Kyle Mora, like Durna a true freshman, relieved Erhardt for two scoreless frames of his own and earned the winning decision, with two strikeouts and one hit and one walk against him. He worked out of a leadoff double in the fourth thanks in large part to a lineout double play started by junior second baseman Vince Mori (Oceanside/Palomar College). Sophomore Jack Rupe, Jr. (San Marcos/Mission Hills HS) tossed two innings and struck out three while allowing the lone SDC run, before Erik Amundson and Jonah Dipoto handled the eighth and ninth, respectively, Amundson fanning a pair swinging after a leadoff single and flyout.
"It was good to get Kyle (Mora) out there," added Newman. "He battled through some ups and downs, and was a little jittery at times, but he made pitches when he needed to. Jack Rupe was the same way. (Erik) Amundson was fantastic. He looked really, really electric. The ball was jumping out of his hand. Then Jonah (Dipoto) came in. They all just did a great job of throwing strike, pounding and being aggressive to hitters, which is what we pride ourselves on, so that was good to see out of all of those guys."
Shirley roped a one-out double to left in the third, but was stranded at third.
UCSD drew three walks in the home fourth, starting with one of the eight-pitch variety by junior leftfielder Christian Leung with one away, battling back from a 1-2 deficit. The Tritons were unable to convert the free passes into the game's first run.
That came in the fifth, as the home side struck for an unearned pair on an RBI fielder's choice by sophomore third baseman Tyler Plantier (Poway/Del Norte HS) and a sharp Leung single to right.
In the sixth, RBI went to Shirley (single), JD Hearn (walk), Tim White (fielder's choice) and Justin Flatt (single), ahead of a solid two-run single to left by Howsley to cap the scoring in the lengthy frame. UCSD's only earned run of the evening came in the seventh on a fielder's choice ground ball by Hearn that left everybody safe.
SDC had halved its deficit to 2-1 on a two-out RBI double by Patrick Vizcaino in the top of the sixth, but Rupe handled a comebacker to keep the tying run at second.
"We still have a lot of work to do," concluded Newman. "Defensively, we played a clean game tonight, which is nice to see. Offensively, we were better today (than Saturday), especially as the game went along. It looked like we're starting to settle into our swings a little bit. Guys had good focus at the plate. I liked the way we played most of the game. Even at 10-1, the game got kind of out of hand, but guys kept playing hard, kept grinding, and stayed focused on what they were trying to do. I liked seeing that."
The 2016 Tritons will scrimmage former Tritons in their annual alumni game this Friday night, Jan. 29. First pitch at Triton Ballpark is slated for 6 p.m. Admission is free. Triton alums are expected to take batting practice from 4:15 to 5 p.m. UCSD will then begin the new campaign on Saturday, Feb. 6, with a doubleheader against The Master's College, ranked No. 10 in the preseason National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) poll. The Opening Day twin bill at Triton Ballpark is set for a 2 p.m. start.
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