Point Loma Nazarene University defeated UCSD in a single game on Feb. 7, while California Baptist University dropped the Tritons in a doubleheader on Feb. 8 at Triton Baseball Field.
On Feb. 7, the PLNU Crusaders downed the Tritons 12-4 after a nine-run sixth inning to break open what had been a tie game.
Point Loma scored two runs on UCSD pitcher Alex Cremidan in the first inning. Later in the sixth, the Crusaders scored five more on Cremidan, who went 5.1 innings before Andrew Holloway came on in relief. Holloway entered the game with the bases loaded and walked the next two batters, allowing two runs to cross the plate. Logan Boutilier, the third Triton pitcher in the inning, came on for Holloway and gave up a bases-clearing double to Adam McGrew.
UCSD had just four hits in the loss to the Crusaders. Point Loma had 10 hits in its second victory against UCSD this year.
“”I think we gave them a lot of runs,”” said Triton head coach Dan O’Brien. “”I don’t think they scored a lot of runs. Even the first two runs of the game crossed the plate without being earned. That set the tone for the whole day.””
Riddle commented on what he thinks the team needs to improve on before league play starts.
“”We’ve just got to come out and compete,”” he said. “”We’ve got to show up to the yard ready to play. Sometimes we get a little lax and let the other team affect us. But, we are an awesome team with solid hitters and great pitchers. It’s just about how we approach the game mentally.””
In addition to Cremidan (1-1), UCSD used five other pitchers.
“”I thought the bullpen threw well today,”” O’Brien said. “”We had some guys get their first college innings. I was most impressed with their composure on the mound.””
UCSD looked to regain some ground as they faced Cal Baptist in a doubleheader on Feb. 8. But the Tritons’ slump continued, and the Lancers defeated UCSD in both games 6-2 and 9-4, respectively.
Senior James Sanders took the hill for the Tritons in the first game, and went 6.1 innings and gave up six runs on eight hits.
The Lancers scored two runs in each of the fourth, sixth and seventh innings to put them on top of the Tritons, who scored their two runs early in the game against Cal Baptist pitcher Justin Hurd.
In the second inning, two doubles and a fielder’s choice plated Matt Merrifield and Brett Burton. That was the extent of the runs production for the Tritons.
Cal Baptist limited UCSD’s scoring by holding it to just five hits in the game.
Needing a cohesive unit to play, the Tritons struggled to find the key to victory.
“”We’re all just trying too hard,”” Sanders said. “”We are trying so hard to do so much, instead of each person focusing individually to do their own thing.””
The second game of the doubleheader was much like the first. Cal Baptist scored all of its nine runs in the fourth inning to again defeat UCSD 9-4.
UCSD freshman Jose Navarro got his first start as a Triton, throwing 3.1 innings, giving up six runs on four hits and taking the loss to fall to (0-2) on the season.
Cal Baptist put up nine runs on seven hits in the fourth inning.
The Tritons scored a run in the fourth inning, one in the fifth and then two more in the ninth.
After dropping their fourth-straight game, the Tritons fell to 2-4 in their nonconference schedule.
“”Right now [the team] is acting like a team that is still trying to figure out whether they are good or not, instead of trusting their ability and knowing that they are a good, solid ball club. This could be a very positive thing for us. It’s better to learn early in the year about your character than it is late in the year,”” O’Brien said. “”Adversity early in a season can be a very good thing if it is channeled correctly. It’s important to get through something like this because it will teach us how to handle it in the future.””
Though disappointed in this week’s outings, UCSD is confident that it will bounce back.
“”We’ll find the right combination to make it work,”” O’Brien said.
The Tritons begin league action on Feb. 13 against Cal Poly Pomona at 2 p.m.