LA JOLLA, Calif. — The San Francisco State baseball team came ready to play on Friday night and began CCAA action with a 4-1 victory at No. 7 UC San Diego.

The Gators (1-5/1-0 CCAA) shook off a frustrating start to the season against the Tritons (4-2/0-1 CCAA), who are picked to finish second in the CCAA after going 44-19 a season ago and advancing to the finals of the NCAA Championships.

"Today was a tremendous team effort," said Head Coach Tony Schifano. "Matthew Hernandez made some big pitches in big moments of the game. Bulldog effort!"

Hernandez (1-1) was dominant in the best outing of his college career. The senior struck out a career-high 12 in six innings of work and the Gators staff combined for 16 strikeouts. Hernandez struck out Steven Schuknecht on three straight pitches to get out a bases-loaded jam in the first. The Tritons scored their lone run of the game in the fifth after a fielding error allowed Tyler Tyler Durna to reach base and later score on Alex Eliopulos' RBI single. The Tritons threatened with the bases loaded but Hernandez induced a fly ball to get out of the fifth. He finished his day by striking out the side in the sixth.

Offensively, Jack Harris provided a spark and the Gators executed small ball. The sophomore outfielder had two of the Gators' five hits and scored three times. After leading off the second with at triple, Harris scored on David Mansell's sac fly. In the fourth, Harris led off with a double and moved to third on a Mansell sacrifice bunt, then Harley Lopez followed with an RBI single to right field to make it 2-0. Harris led off again in the sixth and worked a full-count walk, then stole second. Mansell laid down another sacrifice bunt to move Harris up 90 feet and two batters later, Antone Self brought Harris home with a sac fly.

The Gators picked up another insurance run in the ninth. Jason Hare worked a full-count walk, advanced on Zac Neumann's sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch, then scored on an infield error.

Cameron Crone picked up the four-out save. He got the Gators out of another bases-loaded jam in the eighth, then recorded the first two outs of the ninth via strikeout before UC San Diego loaded the bases yet again. Crone induced a fielder's choice to end the game.

Up Next
The four-game series continues with a Saturday doubleheader at 1 p.m. in La Jolla. Live stats and video will be available from the Tritons and in-game updates will also be available on Twitter at @sfstatebaseball.