March 4
UC San Diego 7, San Francisco State 1
Ace Tim Shibuya (5-0) struck out a career-high 11 batters in eight innings of solid work, and four Tritons tallied RBI as UCSD took the first game of the four-game series.
The Tritons put up four runs in the first inning and didn’t look back. Blake Tagmyer had a two-run single with the bases loaded, and Tagmyer and Kellen Lee scored on an error by the Gators’ second baseman. UCSD added two more runs in the fourth inning, with an RBI double from Evan Kehoe and a sac fly by Nick La Face to bring in Kehoe. San Francisco State got its only run in the sixth inning off an RBI double.
Aside from his 11 strikeouts, Shibuya allowed one run on six hits while walking none. Eric Abraham pitched the ninth inning and didn’t allow a hit. Tagmyer went two-for-three with two runs and two RBI, while Kehoe was two-for-four with two RBI and a run. Aaron Bauman went three-for-four with a run and an RBI. Despite the strength of the game offensively, the Tritons struck out 11 times in the game.
March 5 (Game 1)
UC San Diego 10, San Francisco State 2
Kyle Saul had three RBI and Evan Kehoe went 4-for-4 as the Tritons effortlessly took the first game of the doubleheader on Saturday.
After a scoreless first inning, the Tritons posted five runs in their half of the second, with two RBI apiece from Saul and K.C. Rentfro. Saul also scored on an error by the Gator center fielder. Ten different Tritons accounted for 14 hits in the game.
Guido Knudson (3-1) pitched seven scoreless innings to pick up the win.
March 5 (Game 2)
San Francisco State 5, UC San Diego 3
Triton starter Daniel Simmons (2-2) was roughed up for his third consecutive start, and the Gators scored the go-ahead run in the sixth inning of the seven-inning game to get their first win against UCSD since April 27, 2008.
Simmons lasted just one inning, giving up three runs on four hits and facing nine batters. After starting the season 2-0, Simmons hasn’t lasted more than four innings in any of his last three starts. Justin Burns (1-1) came in to relieve, and gave up two runs on five hits in 5.1 innings. Burns also surrendered the go ahead run, giving him the loss.
Down 3-2 in the fifth, Saul led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch. Saul advanced to second, then third, on two groundouts, then was brought out on an RBI single by Tagmyer. However, the Gators responded right away, with an infield single bringing in the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth. San Francisco State added an insurance run in the seventh to seal the win.
March 6
UC San Diego 13,
San Francisco State 3
The Tritons used a 10-run eighth inning to pick up a win and take three of four from San Francisco State.
With the score tied 3-3 going into the bottom of the eighth, the Triton offense unloaded, with doubles from Danny Susdorf, Aaron Bauman, Nick La Face, Garrett Tuck and K.C. Rentfro. La Face’s double came with the bases loaded and plated all three runners — the first RBI of La Face’s career.
Elias Tuma (2-0) pitched 3.1 innings of relief, giving up two hits and no runs to pick up the win.
The Tritons are now 15-5 overall and 8-4 in the CCAA. The Tritons will travel to Cal State Dominguez Hills for games on Thursday and Friday before returning home for a doubleheader on Saturday.
