Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SAN FRANCISCO –  The SF State Gators have clinched at least a series split with the  No. 18 UC San Diego Tritons as they split this afternoon's doubleheader with their guests losing the opener 17-3, but rebounding and taking game two 3-1.  Bryce Cherry drove in Nick Jackson with a two-out run scoring single in the bottom of the sixth with what proved to be the game-winner.
 
UC San Diego (26-13, 22-9 CCAA) took a 1-0 lead in the night cap on a Nick La Face sacrifice fly that brought in Erik Lewis in the top of the first inning.  Lewis had a lead-off single to begin the game and went to third on a single by Troy Cruz.  He then scored on La Face's sacrifice fly.
 
The Gators tied the game in their half of the first inning.  Nick Jackson had a lead-off single and went to second on a single by Matt Vera.  Both Jackson and Vera advanced a base on a sacrifice by Carter Loud.  Bryce Cherry then drove in Jackson with a sacrifice fly to right field.
 
For the next four innings, it was a pitching battle between the two starters in the Gators' Preston Tarter and the Tritons' Blake Fassler. 
 
The Tritons had a couple of chances to take the lead including in the top of the fifth inning.  Cruz had a one-out single and went to second on a single up the middle by Justin Rahn.  Tarter then induced the final out on a fly out to Carter Loud in right field.
 
In the Gators half of the sixth inning, Jackson had a one-out double to left center.  With two outs, Loud was intentionally walked to set the tables for Cherry.  The Gator junior hit the second pitch he saw for a single to left center to bring in Jackson with what proved to be the game-winning run.  Grady Espinosa singled home Loud to give the Gators a 3-1 lead heading into the seventh.
 
Cory Davis came on in relief for Tarter.  Lewis was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning.  Cruz then hit a liner to the gap in left center, but Dillon Meyer dove to record out number one of the inning.  Davis then induced the next two Triton batters to fly out to preserve the 3-1 Gator win.
 
Tarter (4-5) picked up the win, pitching 6 innings of four-hit ball, giving up one run while striking out three and walking three.  Davis recorded his 11^th save of the season by pitching a scoreless seventh.
 
Jackson had two hits and scored twice with Cherry driving in Jackson both times. 
 
Fassler fell to 4-3 on the season, pitching 5.2 innings, giving up three hits and three runs while striking out one and walking one.
 
Cruz had two of the Tritons' four hits.
 
In the opener, the Gators (19-22, 14-17 CCAA) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.  Meyer reached base on a lead-off walk.  He went to second on a single by Trevor Diskin.  The senior outfielder advanced to third on a double steal attempt, which Diskin was thrown out at second.  He scored on a ground out by Loud.
 
The Tritons scored three runs each in the third and fourth innings to take a 6-1 lead.  Lewis had a two-run triple in the fourth to key the Tritons increasing their lead to 6-1.
 
The Gators cut the Triton lead to 6-3 with a two-run sixth inning.  Fernando Escobar singled to lead off the inning and went to second on a wild pitch.  Meyer singled him to third.  Escobar scored on wild pitch which Meyer advanced to second on.  Meyer went to third on a fly out by Loud.  He then scored on a sacrifice fly by Espinosa.
 
UC San Diego broke the game open with an 11-run ninth inning which Rahn drove in four of the Triton's 11 runs to give the guests a 17-3 lead.
 
Trevor Scott (4-2) recorded the win for the Tritons with Dan Kolodin recording his first save.  Scott pitched six innings of four hit ball, giving up three runs, striking out five and walking two.  Kolodin pitched two scoreless innings, giving up two hits and striking out two.
 
Rahn drove in five runs on two hits in the opener and four other Tritons had at least two hits apiece.
 
Jack Veronin recorded the loss for SF State, falling to 2-3. 
 
Vera had two of the Gators' six hits in game with Meyer scoring two of the three runs.
 
The two teams will return to the diamond tomorrow morning to finish off the four-game series.  First pitch is scheduled for 11am at The Swamp at Maloney Field as the Gators look to take the four-game series from the Tritons.  

Box Score Game One

Box Score Game Two