The UCSD baseball team traveled to Cal State San Bernardino to take on the Coyotes Feb. 19. Heading into the matchup, the Tritons boasted a nine-game winning streak against the Coyotes ,with series sweeps in 2002 and 2003. However, UCSD dropped the series opener to Cal State San Bernardino, 6-4.
The loss snapped another streak for the Tritons. Last week’s Wilson California Collegiate Athletic Association Pitcher of the Week, sophomore Byron Grubman, took the hill for UCSD in game one against the Coyotes. Grubman retired the last 19 Cal State Los Angeles batters in his three-hit complete game win on Feb. 13. Against the Coyotes, Grubman sat down the first three batters in order to extend his streak of retired batters to 22. In his last 13 innings pitched, Grubman had allowed just six singles and a walk. But in the bottom of the second inning, Cal State San Bernardino first baseman Aaron Rice singled up the middle, ending Grubman’s streak.
Grubman struggled later in the game, giving up solo home runs to Coyote third baseman Jeff Weld and to Rice to leadoff the fifth and sixth innings, respectively. Ultimately, Grubman went five and two-thirds innings, giving up six runs on 10 hits and striking out three. With the loss, Grubman falls to 1-1 on the year.
Offensively, UCSD senior designated hitter Jeff Riddle opened the scoring in the game with a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning, his second of the year, off of Cal State San Bernardino pitcher Casey Mutter (2-0). Riddle finished 1-for-4 with two RBI’s in the game.
The Coyotes put up two runs in the fifth inning and four runs in the sixth. Rice finished a perfect 4-for-4 game with an RBI and one run scored.
The Tritons attempted a comeback in the top of the eighth inning putting up three runs on three hits. UCSD junior rightfielder Ryan Langone smacked a one-out double to left field. He advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a second wild pitch. The three runs in the inning would not be enough to overtake the Coyotes.
In the game for UCSD, sophomore leftfielder Damian Fante went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Junior shortstop Keith Hernandez and junior third baseman Ricky Pinocchio each produced two hits in the game.
With the loss, UCSD falls to 9-5 overall, 2-3 in the CCAA. The victory puts Cal State San Bernardino’s record at 6-5 overall, and an identical 2-3 in CCAA.
The remaining three games between the Tritons and the Coyotes were postponed due to rain. One game will be made up on Feb. 23, while the date and time of the final two games is still to be determined.
UCSD continues league action against Cal Poly Pomona with single games in Pomona on Feb. 26 and Feb. 27. The series will then comes to San Diego for a twin-bill finale on Feb. 28. The Tritons will then play a single game against crosstown rival University of San Diego.
