LA JOLLA, Calif. – UC San Diego sophomore right-hander
Aren Alvarez scattered three hits and allowed just one unearned run over 6.2 innings as the Tritons topped UC Bakersfield 7-1 in game two of a Big West Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Triton Ballpark. In the first game, the Roadrunners built a 3-0 lead and hung on for a 3-2 victory.
With Saturday's doubleheader split, the Tritons are 10-21 overall and 7-12 in Big West action. CSU Bakersfield is 13-9 overall and 10-5 in conference play.
GAME 1: CSU BAKERSFIELD 3, UC SAN DIEGO 2
The first game began with a pair of infield singles, but the second batted ball hit the CSU Bakersfield baserunner for the game's first out. Then, UC San Diego senior righty
Noah Conlon coaxed a double play grounder to get out of the first unscathed.
The Roadrunners broke through with three runs in the top of the fourth. After a walk, single, and fielder's choice plated a run, Bakersfield scored twice more on an RBI single and a bases loaded walk to go up 3-0.
UC San Diego mounted a two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh.
Michael Fuhrman drew a walk and
Anthony Lucchetti singled.
Blake Baumgartner laced an 0-2 pitch down the left field line to double in a pair of runs.
The Tritons got a one-out single in the eighth but were unable to score. They went down in order in the bottom of the ninth as the Roadrunners hung on for the win in game one.
Aaron Charles (2-0) struck out five in five innings to pick up the win. Conlon (1-4) struck out four in five innings but was saddled with the loss.
GAME 2: UC SAN DIEGO 7, CSU BAKERSFIELD 1
After issuing a one out walk in the top of the first, Alvarez settled in. He did not allow a hit to the 'Runners until a two-out single in the top of the fifth.
Meantime, the Triton offense went to work quickly to give the sophomore a lead to work with.
Michael Fuhrman doubled to lead off the bottom of the first. One out later,
Blake Baumgartner laced a double to put two in scoring position.
Jackson Kritsch walked on four pitches and
Tate Soderstrom put up a crooked number with a three-run single to right.
Aaron Kim singled to center, plating Soderstrom to give the Tritons a 4-0 lead through one inning.
In the sixth, Logan White doubled home
Everett Lau and Fuhrman singled home White to give the Tritons a 6-0 advantage. UC San Diego added an insurance run in the seventh when Baumgartner scored on a wild pitch.
QUOTABLE
"Obviously, our starting pitchers did a really nice job, both Conlon and Alvarez, really stepped up and gave us nice starts that we've been desperately needing," said UC San Diego head coach
Eric Newman. "It was a good day on that side of it. Offensively, we had our ups and downs for the day. Overall, it's good to get a split, especially with the way Aren [Alvarez] pitched in the second game. We will come out tomorrow and try and get one in the series finale."
TRITON TIDBITS
- Alvarez threw 85 pitches over 6.2 innings, both career highs. He matched his personal best with four strikeouts.
- The UC San Diego bullpen threw 6.1 shutout innings across Saturday's games.
- Baumgartner doubled twice in game two, extending his team-best hitting streak to 11 games.
UP NEXT
The Tritons and Roadrunners wrap up their four-game series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:02 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ESPN3.
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions III and II and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.
Return To Sport… Safely
In order for UC San Diego scholar-athletes to be permitted to return to training and competition safely and within federal, state, local, and university guidelines, the athletic department implemented a number of measures designed to complement and enhance the university's highly-successful Return To Learn program. Notable actions include being physically distanced when practical, including during out-of-season training sessions; wearing masks, except when undergoing physically strenuous exercise; and maintaining proper hygiene. Athletes, coaches, and staff are testing at a higher frequency than the campus population, teams adhere to CDC, NCAA, and Big West Conference guidelines, and department officials participate in regular meetings with conference and university-affiliated physicians and the UC San Diego emergency operations staff.
