LA JOLLA, Calif. — The San Francisco State baseball dropped the first game of the series, 4-3, at nationally-ranked UC San Diego, on Friday at Triton Ballpark.
- The Gators (11-4/5-4 CCAA) were outhit 9-6 by the Tritons (11-3/6-3 CCAA), who are ranked No. 2 in the nation in the Collegiate Baseball Top 25 and No. 3 in the NCBWA Top 25.
- Jackson Kritsch went 2-for-4 with an RBI and is now hitting a team-leading .442.
- Thaddeus Wilson went 2-for-3 with a run and a walk.
- Jason Hare was 1-for-3 with a couple of RBI.
- Shay Whitcomb sent the first pitch he saw in the third inning to left field for a solo home run and a 1-0 Tritons lead.
- Aaron Kim singled home a pair in the third inning that grew UCSD's lead to 3-0.
- In the fourth, Jonah Gonzales singled and stole second. He scored on a ball hit by Kritsch.
- In the seventh inning, Wilson drew a leadoff walk. Riley Cleary was hit by an 0-2 pitch and Hare worked a full count, then delivered a two-run double that pulled the Gators to within a run.
- SF State went quietly after that. Kritsch had a single in the eighth but the side struck out in the ninth.
- Starter Jack Higgins (2-2) struck out six but gave up all four runs in five innings of work.
- The Gators bullpen combined for three scorless innings. Sebastian Selway struck out five in two innings of work. Jack Reitsma worked two thirds of an inning and Mike Manley worked a third of an inning.
The Gators series at UC San Diego continues on Saturday, February 29 with a 1 p.m. doubleheader. The games will be streamed by UCSD and live stats will also be available at sfstategators.com. Be sure to follow San Francisco State Baseball on Twitter and Instagram at @sfstatebaseball.
