The Tritons split a four-game series with their California Collegiate Athletic Association conference foes, San Francisco State last weekend. The series was played at Triton Ballpark, with a doubleheader on Saturday. UCSD suffered losses on Friday and Sunday but took both games of the doubleheader on Saturday. The split brings the Tritons to 14–14 in conference play. 

Friday, April 5

UCSD 1, San Francisco State 4

In the opening game of the series, a three-run seventh inning broke open a tied 1–1 score to swing the game for the Gators. 

Both pitchers were dominant through most of the game. San Francisco State starter Ryan DeJesus threw seven innings, giving up only one run and striking out four. The only run he surrendered came in the bottom of the fourth, when Triton catcher, junior Nick La Face, doubled in senior Richard Seigel. 

Triton ace Ryan Goodbrand began the game solidly, giving up only one run in five innings. In the top of the fourth, the Gators capitalized on catcher Justin Lamb stealing third base, and hit a single to briefly claim the lead before the Tritons evened it up in the bottom of the inning. The game got away from Goodbrand in the sixth, however, as a triple and a pair of singles brought in three runs for the Gators.

The Tritons attempted to fight back, with junior shortstop Dillon Moyer doubling to open up the seventh. Any attempt to come back was stopped, as the Tritons’ next batters failed to bring Moyer home. The Tritons also failed to produce any runs in the eighth and ninth innings. UCSD went down 4–1 in the opener.

Saturday, April 6

UCSD 9, San Francisco State 6

The first game of Saturday’s doubleheader was a complete reversal of the pitching duel in the opening game. Both teams recorded 11 hits, and both starting pitchers, Jack Veronin for San Francisco State and junior Blake Fassler for UCSD, gave up five earned runs in their outings. 

The Gators struck first, picking up a run in the first off a single by first baseman AJ Pianto. The Tritons answered quickly in the second with a single to third base by senior Sam Michaels. The Gators surged ahead again in the fourth, scoring twice.

In the bottom of the inning, UCSD answered by scoring four runs to take the lead for the first time in the series. The Tritons got started with an RBI single by junior Justin Rahn and capitalized on a fielding error by the left-fielder to advance the runners. The error proved to be costly for the Gators, as junior third-baseman Garrett Tuck doubled to bring home two runs. UCSD added another run on a fielder’s choice by junior Scott Liske, capping the bottom of the fourth.

The Gators answered in the top of the fifth by scoring two runs in order to tie the game, but another Triton rally in the sixth pushed them back ahead. Senior center-fielder Danny Susdorf singled to bring in a run. A fielding error by the third-baseman allowed the runners to advance and set up two more runs, one scored on a fielder’s choice hit by Seigel and the other on a single by La Face.

UCSD added one more in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by freshman second-baseman Troy Cruz. The Gators attempted a comeback in the top of the ninth, scoring once on a triple by Miguel Flores, but were unable to bring across any more.

Saturday, April 6

UCSD 7, San Francisco State 5

In the second game of the doubleheader, UCSD jumped out ahead early and stayed in control. The Tritons scored twice in the second inning by way of a single to right field from Susdorf. UCSD added on two more in the next inning when Moyer doubled to left field, and Tuck hit a sacrifice fly.

UCSD pitcher Troy Cruz pitched well for the Tritons, going six innings, striking out two and only surrendering two runs. The two runs came from the top of the fifth inning, as Grady Espinosa tripled to drive in a run and later scored on a single from Flores.

Seigel powered the Triton sixth with a triple down the right field line to score three. He finished the game 2-for-3 with three RBIs. 

The Gators once again tried to come back in the final inning, scoring two runs on a double by Flores and another by wild pitch.

Sunday, April 7

UCSD 3, San Francisco State 11

In the final game of the series, the Gators scored one in the first, and then exploded for six runs in the second. 

San Francisco State added two runs in the sixth and eighth, which cemented the game. Gator pitcher Nolan Sheridan didn’t need as much run support, as he pitched seven innings, struck out six and gave up one run.

The Tritons pushed across three runs but were not able to overcome the six-run inning. Seigel blasted a home run out to right field in the fourth. In the seventh, Moyer scored on an error from the Gator pitcher, and UCSD scored again in the eighth, as La Face hit a sacrifice fly to score Susdorf.