SAN FRANCISCO – Second-ranked UC San Diego erased a 3-2 deficit by erupting for seven runs in the top of the fourth inning to pull away for a 9-5 victory over host San Francisco State in the second game of a California Collegiate Athletic Association doubleheader on Saturday at Maloney Field. Earlier, the Tritons (44-6, 34-5 CCAA), who have now won 10 straight, claimed an 11-2 decision over the Gators (22-31, 15-24 CCAA) in game one.
Kevin Dultz (Altadena, Calif., Glendale CC) gave the Gators a quick 2-0 advantage in the nightcap when he belted his team-leading seventh home run in the bottom of the first, plating Nick Nyman (Susanville, Calif., Lassen College), who drew a one-out walk.
SF State pushed across a run in the bottom of the second when Ben Mielke (Arcata, Calif., Shasta College) reached on an infield single, scoring Nick Bowerman (Oakley, Calif., Mount Mercy College), who led off with a base hit to left and moved up to third on a pair of groundouts.
However, UCSD narrowed the gap to 3-2 in the top of the third as Michael Benton hit a solo homer, while Vance Albitz scored on a bases-loaded walk to Brandon Gregorich.
The Tritons then sent 12 batters to the plate in the fourth, scoring seven runs on eight hits while taking advantage of two Gator miscues to break the game open. With two outs and runners at second and third, Grant Bauer came home on wild pitch, while Albitz knocked in Robert Sedin with a base hit up the middle. Shortly thereafter, Kyle Saul doubled in Albitz and soon touched the plate on an SF State throwing error, while Gregorich, Danny Susdorf and Benton added RBI singles to put the visitors up 9-3.
SF State tacked on two runs in the bottom of the sixth on Bowerman's sacrifice fly and Keith Garcia's (Ventura, Calif., Oxnard College) single, plating Ryan Williams (Woodland, Calif., Yuba College) and Greg Kline (Las Vegas, Nev., San Joaquin Delta College), respectively, to account for the final score. Previously, Williams reached on a base hit up the middle and advanced to third on Kline's sixth double of the season.
Dultz went 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI and a run scored to pace the Gators, while Albitz and Saul had three hits each for UCSD.
Kirby St. John (10-1) allowed five runs on eight hits and one walk in six innings to pick up the win, while Pat Haugen (Cayucos, Calif., Cuesta College) (8-4) was saddled with the loss in his final start at SF State. Haugen fanned a game-high six batters in 3 2/3 innings, stretching his Gator career and single season-leading strikeout totals to 179 and 114, respectively.
In the opener, SF State also drew first blood in the bottom of the first inning when Williams singled in Nyman, who got aboard on an infield hit and advanced to third following his team-high 16th stolen base and a groundout.
However, the Tritons took the lead for good with four markers in the top of the second as Bauer smacked a two-run homer, while Albitz added an RBI single and later scored on a bases-loaded walk to Gergorich.
The Tritons extended their advantage to 7-1 in the top of the third as Kellen Lee doubled home Danny Susdorf and came around to score on Bauer's RBI single to right. Moments later, Bauer crossed the plate on a Gator error following Saul's base hit.
UCSD then stretched the margin to 11-1 after plating two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings.
SF State closed out the scoring in the ninth when Brian Bianchi (Los Altos, Calif., College of San Mateo)went deep for the first time this season with a solo home run over the fence in left field.
Matt Rossman (9-0) struck out nine batters in five innings, giving up one run on five hits to earn the victory, while Kyle Mastellar (Corning, Calif., Shasta Junior College) (3-4) took the loss. Ryan DeJesus (Westlake Village, Calif., Westlake HS) pitched well in relief for SF State, keeping the Tritons off the scoreboard for the final four frames.
UCSD recorded 17 hits in the contest as seven players finished with two apiece, including Bauer, Gregorich and Susdorf, who also scored two runs each.
The Gators will close out their 2010 campaign on Sunday against the Tritons with a single game at Maloney Field beginning at noon. Prior to first pitch, the seniors from both squads will be recognized as part of Senior Day festivities, including SF State's
Nick Bowerman,
Ricky Del Zompo (Napa, Calif., Napa Valley College),
Geoff Downing (Half Moon Bay, Calif., New Mexico State Univ.),
Keith Garcia,
Pat Haugen,
Greg Kline,
Spencer Kreisberg (Tigard, Ore., Los Medanos College),
Kyle Mastellar,
Nick Nyman,
Kyle Pfeiffer (Palo Cedro, Calif., Shasta College),
Sean Proni (Valencia, Calif., College of Marin) and
Ryan Williams.
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
