The UCSD baseball team traveled to Chico State last weekend to face the Wildcats in a four-game series. Due to weather conditions, the teams only played two out of the four games. The remaining games will not be rescheduled.
Guardian file
In a doubleheader on April 11, Chico swept the Tritons in both games, winning game one 7-6, and shutting out UCSD in game two, 4-0.
Chico State jumped out to a one-run lead over UCSD in the bottom of the first inning in game one. With a goose egg in the runs column through three innings, the Tritons mounted a rally in the top of the fourth, putting up five runs on two hits and four Wildcat errors.
After Wildcat pitcher Ivan Hernandez hit UCSD lead-off hitter, left fielder Damian Fante, Triton second baseman Nigel Miller reached on an error by Hernandez. Hernandez committed another error in the inning, putting Triton designated hitter Matt Smith aboard. UCSD third baseman Matt Merrifield singled to left field, plating Fante. Miller and Smith scored after right fielder Brett Burton reached on a fielder’s choice. Center fielder David Hawk singled down the left-field line, driving in Merrifield and Burton.
Ahead 6-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth, the Tritons were unable to hold onto their lead and secure the game. Chico went on to score three runs in the bottom half of the inning, after Wildcat right fielder Steve Newson hit a three-run home run off of UCSD pitcher Alex Cremidan, pushing the game into extra innings. In the bottom of the 11th, UCSD freshman pitcher Justin Suarez gave up a solo home run to Wildcat pinch hitter John Moylan, as Chico edged out the Tritons 7-6 in game one.
“”We were not playing our best baseball, and we blew a three-run lead in the ninth inning, but we still put ourselves in a position to win,”” said UCSD head coach Dan O’Brien. “”We just need to get better at closing out and winning ball games.””
Suarez picked up the loss for the Tritons and falls to 0-2 on the season.
Miller went 2-for-3, shortstop Keith Hernandez went 2-for-5 with two doubles and Hawk went 2-for-4 in the game.
Junior hurler Raf Bergstrom took the hill for UCSD in the seven-inning second game of the doubleheader. Bergstrom, now 5-1, pitched his third complete game of the season for the Tritons, but picked up his first loss of the season when Chico State beat UCSD 4-0.
The Wildcats put up two runs in the bottom of the first inning off of Newson’s ninth home run of the year, putting pressure on the Tritons to respond. In the fourth inning, left fielder Jonathan Shepard tripled and proceeded to score in the inning. The Wildcats added another run in the fifth to secure their victory.
With the two losses, UCSD falls into a tie for first place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association with Chico State and Sonoma State. Now 24-18 overall and 18-12 in the CCAA, and with pressure mounting from other conference teams, the Tritons need to be successful in the remaining two CCAA series.
“”We really need to solidify our bullpen and the guys need to step up if our ball club wants to remain in playoff contention,”” O’Brien said. “”We need to deal with our injuries. At this point in the season, the depth of a team becomes a factor in the conference.””
UCSD squares off against conference rival UC Davis this weekend in a crucial four-game series beginning on April 18 at 2:30 p.m. at Triton Baseball Field.
“”It will be a challenging weekend for us,”” O’Brien said. “”Davis is a good ball club, but whoever wants it more and whoever plays the best baseball will win.””
