After pulling off just a single win in the first three games against No. 12 Chico State to maintain their slim lead over the Wildcats in the California Collegiate Athletic Association standings, the No. 29 Tritons dropped the series finale by a blowout margin to fall into a third place tie with a 1-3 series loss.
The Tritons lost the series opener on April 20 by a score of 2-5 and then came back in the nightcap of the doubleheader to even the series with a 10-7 win. UCSD returned to the field the next day only to drop a close game 3-4 and gave up what was left of their lead in the league standings with a 4-16 defeat.
The blowout loss in the series finale was held on April 22 due to rain that postponed the second game of the scheduled doubleheader. The extra day of rest seemed to help the Wildcats, who exploded for seven runs in the fifth inning and four runs each in both the sixth and seventh innings.
“”They are a good offensive team but we didn’t execute on the mound,”” head coach Dan O’Brien said. “”There’s no question that they capitalized on the too many mistakes we made on the mound.””
Before the Wildcats’ offense heated up, the Tritons took the first lead of the game with a run in the top of the second inning, but Chico State would tie it in the fourth inning on Daniel Code’s solo home run – his first of two on the day.
UCSD retook the lead on a two-run home run off the bat of sophomore first baseman Matt Cantele, his 20th of the year, extending the UCSD single-season record that he broke with his 19th shot in the April 21 game.
“”I think the most exciting thing is that Matt is only going to get better,”” O’Brien said. “”He has a chance to be very, very special. He just goes about his business every day the same way and that consistency is the big reason why he’s as good of a hitter as he is.””
While even Cantele can’t deny his talent, he does give a lot of credit to his supporting cast.
“”I have great protection behind me with Imeson, Morehead and Lawson all hitting for good average and power,”” Cantele said. “”So it’s awesome: Pitchers have to pitch to me and I get to set the table for those guys.””
Despite Cantele’s heroics, the UCSD pitching staff unraveled and surrendered the lead to Chico State in the fifth inning. UCSD freshman starting pitcher Kirby St. John couldn’t finish the inning, but the UCSD relievers didn’t do much better as Chico State ended up scoring seven runs on seven hits and a UCSD error.
The Wildcats’ eight-run surge in the sixth and seventh innings put the game out of reach and clinched a series win and a tie for third place for a Chico State squad that seemed eager to prove its worth all series.
“”We’ve seen them, they’ve seen us now so it helps out both teams come playoff time,”” Cantele said.
While the series finale was decided by 12 runs, the rest of the games were much closer. UCSD lost the third game of the series on April 21 3-4 despite taking a first-inning lead on Cantele’s record-breaking home run.
After sacrificing the lead, UCSD had a chance to take the series lead with a ninth-inning comeback. The Tritons put runners on first and second bases on a walk and an error with two outs, but last year’s CCAA Freshman of the Year Garrett Imeson struck out swinging to end the game.
“”There’s a lot of different reasons we didn’t win that ballgame and Garrett Imeson has been stepping up for this team ever since he has got to this program,”” O’Brien said. “”We set the table and put ourselves in a position to win the ballgame and we just didn’t get it done.””
In the series-opening doubleheader on April 20, UCSD dropped the first game 2-5 and then evened the score with a 10-7 win in the nightcap.
With the 1-3 series loss, UCSD falls to 30-17 overall and 19-9 in CCAA. Meanwhile, Chico State improves to 38-9 overall and 19-9 in the league. Now the Tritons and Wildcats are tied and trail only Cal State Los Angeles and first-place Sonoma State.
“”When you are in the trenches and you are going to battle every day, you just don’t get caught up in the standings because you can get yourself in trouble,”” O’Brien said. “”We have a ballgame this coming Friday and our job is to prepare for that game. The most important thing is that we control our own destiny. If we play the game the way it should be played, we’re going to be fine.””
Next, the Tritons will host Cal State Stanislaus for four games from April 27 to April 29. Then after a non league game against Point Loma Nazarene University at the San Diego Padres’ PETCO Park on May 1, the Tritons will play their last CCAA series with two games at home and then two on the road against Cal State Los Angeles on May 3 to May 5.
