UCSD and Cal State Stanislaus finished a four-game weekend series Sunday at Warrior Field in Turlock, Calif. The Tritons took three of four from the Warriors and won the fourth game 11-4.
Warrior pitcher Andrew Barrett pitched seven hitless innings. But in the top of the eighth inning, just after Triton shortstop Keith Hernandez reached on an error by Warrior shortstop Kyle Dennis, UCSD exploded offensively, scoring 10 runs off seven hits. The Tritons sent 14 batters to the plate in the inning, and UCSD left fielder John Bologna and first baseman Chad Addison each smacked two singles and drove in two runs apiece in the inning. Third baseman Keith Albrecht also had a single, an RBI and scored a run.
“”Guys like John Bologna and Keith Albrecht really stepped up and played outstanding baseball,”” said designated hitter Jeff Riddle. “”They got the ball rolling for the team and things took off from there.””
Bologna and Albrecht helped the Tritons batter the Warrior bullpen for five runs in less than an inning.
Warrior reliever Justin Hoppes gave up three runs on no hits, and the second Warrior reliever, Scott Taylor, gave up two more runs in just one-third of the inning.
For Cal State Stanislaus, right fielder Sean Findley went 2-for-4, including two doubles and three RBIs, while center fielder James Savala also notched two doubles and an RBI.
Triton pitcher Alex Cremidan, who improved to 7-2 with the win, allowed three runs on five hits in seven innings.
Bologna, Addison and Hernandez finished with two hits and two RBIs each.
UCSD improves to 26-20-1 overall and 21-15 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association with the victory, and remains in fourth place in the conference. The top four teams will advance to the postseason, and the Tritons plan to be one of those teams.
“”The standings, who beat who, the other teams’ records and playoffs are out of our control,”” Riddle said. “”We will continue to work hard and play hard the way we have all season, and by going about things the way we have been, good things will happen.””
The Tritons will have to finish up the season on the road as they play their last regular season series against UC Davis this weekend. But it’s not the “”rivalry”” that UCSD will encounter — it’s the game itself.
“”Something that the coaching staff emphasizes is that we need to approach the other team as if they’re faceless,”” Riddle said. “”So if it’s the Yankees, a little league team or Davis, we will come out with the same attitude: ready to compete.””
