LA JOLLA – SF State pitchers
Peter Reyes and
Cory Davis combined on a five-hit shutout in the Gators' 3-0 win over the No. 15 UC San Diego this afternoon at Triton Ballpark in La Jolla. Reyes pitched 5.2 scoreless innings, giving up three hits and striking out two. Davis came in to pitch 3.1 innings of relief, giving up two hits and striking out four.
With the win, Reyes improves to 1-1 on the season while Davis records his first save of the season. The senior reliever now has 14 for his career at SF State, which ties him for second on the Gators' all-time career list with Paul Rodriguez.
SF State (2-5, 1-3 CCAA) managed 8 hits on the day with
Danny Souza leading the way going 3-for-4 driving in two of the Gators' three runs. Souza also had a stolen base while
Ryan Burke and
Mark Lindsay each had two hits for the guests.
Troy Cruz (1-1) suffered the loss for the Tritons who fall to 7-3 overall and 3-1 in the CCAA. The Triton utility players pitched 6 innings, giving up four hits, two runs, striking out four and walking two.
UC San Diego had a chance to take the early lead in its half of the first. The first two batters reached base and advanced a base on a ground out by Cruz. Reyes struck out the next Triton and induced the final out on a ground out to
Fernando Escobar at second
Burke put the Gators on the board with a run scoring single down the right field line in the top of the second which scored
Bryce Cherry who reached on a lead-off triple.
SF State doubled its lead in the fifth on a two-out run scoring single by Souza up the middle which brought in
Garrett Heisinger with the Gators' second run of the game. Heisinger reached base on a one-out walk and went to second on a fly out by
Matt Vera.
The Tritons had another chance to cut into the Gator lead in their half of the fifth inning. Cruz reached base on a lead-off walk and went to second on a wild pitch with two outs. Davis came into pitch for Reyes and induced an inning ending ground out to
Andrew Breen at shortstop.
Davis pitched out of another jam in the bottom of the seventh as Gradeigh Sanchez had a pinch-hit lead off bunt single. He went to second with two outs when Brandon Shirley was hit by a pitch. Davis induced the next Gator to a fly out to
Nick Jackson in left center to preserve the Gator 2-0 lead.
UC San Diego (7-3, 3-1 CCAA) stranded two more runners in the eighth. The first two batters reached on walks. The senior right-handed pitcher struck out the next Triton batter and induced a fly out to
Will Hein in right. The next Triton walked to load the bases with two outs, but David got the final out on a fly out to Hein in right field.
The Gators added an insurance run in the ninth when Burke had a lead-off single.
Nazareth Thibodeaux came in to pinch run for Burke and stole second base. With one out, Thibodeaux advanced to third on a fly out by Vera. The junior transfer scored on a two-out single through the left side by Souza to increase the Gator lead to 3-0.
Once again, UC San Diego had the first two batters reach base on a lead-off single and a walk. Davis struck out the next two Tritons on 10 pitches. Then with runners on first and second, two outs and the count 1-0 the Davis induced a game-ending fly out to Hein in right center to preserve the Gators' 3-0 series finale win.
SF State will return home this weekend for a three-game non-conference series with No. 36 Fresno Pacific. The two teams will begin the series this Friday, February 20 at 2pm with a single nine-inning game at Maloney Field. The Gators and the Sunbirds will then play a doubleheader the next day beginning at 11am. Fresno Pacific is currently 6-2 after taking two out of three from No. 6 Chico State, all in Fresno and all extra-inning affairs.
Box Score ---
Gator Athletics has a proud tradition of competitive success within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The department offers 12 intercollegiate sports programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Women's Track & Field, Women's Volleyball and Men's Wrestling.
Gator Athletics places great emphasis on academic performance as well as athletic achievement. The program offers student athletes the opportunity to reach their educational goals, as well pursue meaningful athletic accomplishments. For more information, visit SF State Athletics' website, Twitter and Facebook pages.
