After splitting its April 29 through May 1 series against Sonoma State, the No. 15 UCSD baseball team clinched a second consecutive California Collegiate Athletic Association playoff berth with a thrilling, 10-9, 11-inning victory over Cal State Dominguez Hills on May 4.
Safe:
Senior infielder Alex Gascon singled to lead off the bottom half of the 11th inning, before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior outfielder Ryan Langone, then to third on a fielder’s choice by senior infielder Ricky Pinnochio. The bases were then loaded before a passed ball gave Gascon the green light to score the winning run.
“This game summarizes our team and our season,” head coach Dan O’Brien said. “We started playing really bad, then got better late in the game. This is one of about six come-from-behind wins for us.”
Complete details for the game were unavailbale at press time.
Sonoma State earned victories over the Tritons in the series opener on April 29 and in the nightcap of the doubleheader, 7-4 and 1-0, respectively. UCSD took games two and four by scores of 7-3 and 7-1, respectively.
UCSD (29-19 overall, 23-17 CCAA) senior ace Logan Boutilier (9-2) threw eight innings and struck out four Sonoma State (24-28 overall, 18-17 CCAA) batters in game two of the match-up to earn his ninth win of the season.
In the seven-inning nightcap, the Seawolves scored their only run on a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning and restricted the Tritons to goose eggs across the board, holding UCSD to no runs and no hits in the game.
The Tritons were bent on revenge in the series finale and stole game four, 7-1, over the Seawolves behind the stellar pitching of junior hurler Byron Grubman (4-3). Grubman threw a complete game, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out four.
UCSD scored first and posted one run in the top of the second inning. Triton Gascon led off with a walk and proceeded to steal second base, his tenth stolen base of the season. Pinocchio plated Gascon with a single to left field.
Ahead 1-0 through seven complete innings, the Tritons broke the game open with a five-run offensive assault in the top of the eighth. With one out, junior outfielder Matt Lawson drew a free pass and sophomore catcher David Morehead singled through the left side. Gascon plated Lawson with a single to left. After Morehead was caught stealing, the Tritons produced a four-run, two-out rally. Freshman pinch hitter Chris Hom doubled to left-center field and scored Gascon. Senior outfielder Craig King then singled and plated Hom to put the Tritons up 4-0. Then, with runners at second and third, UCSD senior shortstop Keith Hernandez delivered a single to right field to give the Tritons insurance runs.
Sonoma State and UCSD posted single runs in the ninth inning.
Pinocchio went 3-for-4, while Gascon, Morehead and Lawson notched two hits apiece.
UCSD hosts its final home series against Grand Canyon from May 6 through May 8.
