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SAN FRANCISCO –  The 18^th ranked UC San Diego Tritons salvaged a split in this weekend's four-game series with the SF State Gators at The Swamp at Maloney Field as they defeated their hosts 6-4 in this afternoon's series finale.  Nick La Face drove home what proved to be the game-winning run with a two-out single in the fourth inning.
 
Brandon Shirley gave the Tritons a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as he scored on a run scoring single by Erik  Lewis.  Shirley had a lead-off single and went to third on a failed pickoff attempt.  He scored on Lewis' single. 
 
The Tritons (27-13, 23-9 CCAA) doubled their lead on a run-scoring double by Shirley in the second inning that brought in Brett Levy to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.  Levy reached on a one-out double to right center.
 
The Gators came back and took a 3-2 lead in the third inning.  Danny Souza had a lead-off single and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Fernando Escobar.  He went to third on a single by Dillon Meyer.  Bryce Cherry singled home Souza which Meyer went to third on for SF State's first run of the game.  Loud then hit a sacrifice bunt to bring home Meyer to tie the game at two.  With two outs and a runner on second, Grady Espinosa had an infield single which the Tritons threw away that Cherry scored on to give the hosts a 3-2 lead.
 
UC San Diego retook the lead in its half of the fourth inning with a three run inning as they took advantage of a Gator error.  With two outs, Tyler Howsley singled.  He went to second on a single by Shirley.  Still with two outs, Lewis reached on a fielding error by the Gators which Howsley scored on to tie the game at 3-3.  La Face and Justin Rahn had back to back singles to bring home Shirley and Lewis to give the guests a 5-3 lead.
 
SF State (19-23, 14-18 CCAA) moved within a run in its half of the sixth inning.  Garrett Heisinger, who finished 3-for-4, doubled to left center to lead off the inning.  He went to third on a sacrifice by Matt Vera.  Souza drove in Heisinger with a ground out to make the score 5-4 UC San Diego. 
 
The Tritons added an insurance run in the eighth inning.  Lewis had a two-out single and scored on a double by La Face to give the visitors a 6-4 lead.
 
Shirley and Lewis paced the Triton hitting attack each going 3-for-5, scoring two runs and drive in a run.  La Face had two hits and drove in two runs for UC San Diego.
 
Troy Cruz (6-2) picked up the win for the Tritons, pitching 6 innings, giving up 10 hits and four runs (three earned) and striking out two.  David Hart, Eric Moersen and Scott Zemen pitched three scoreless innings of relief pitching, giving up three hits between them.  Zemen recorded his sixth save by pitching 1.1 scoreless innings.
 
Besides Heisinger's three hits, Meyer, Loud and Souza each had two hits apiece.
 
Nolan Sheridan (2-7) recorded the loss, giving up 11 hits and five runs (one earned) while striking out one in five innings of work.  Taylor Wade pitched three innings of relief, giving up three hits and one run while striking out three.  Trevor Diskin pitched the final inning.
 
SF State will return to the road for the final time as the Gators travel to Carson for a four-game series with Cal State Dominguez Hills next weekend beginning on Friday, April 25 at 3pm with a single nine-inning game. 
 
The Gators, who are 7-3 in their last ten games, will return home the weekend of May 2-4 a four-game home and away series with Cal State East Bay.  The series will begin on May 2 at SF State at 3pm.  It will continue at noon on May 3 with a doubleheader in Hayward.  The four-game series will conclude on Sunday, May 4 also at noon for a single game.  Prior to the game on Sunday, the Gators will recognize their seniors in Trevor Diskin, Grady Espinosa, Carter Loud, Dillon Meyer, Jack Veronin and Taylor Wade, 

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