February 11, 2006

Box Score

San Bernardino, CA- UC San Diego used a four-run 6th inning and capitalized on three errors by CSUDH (1-5) to come away with the victory, 6-2, all while Triton starter Bryan Grubman flirted with a perfect game through 5.2 innings. With the loss, the Toros fall to 1-5 on the season while UC San Diego improves to 2-1 in the early going.

The Tritons started quickly against Toros starter Matthew Hopps (Torrance, CA/South HS), using a one-out double and consecutive hit batters to load the bases. Under pressure, Hopps would induce an inning ending double play to get out of the jam.

Two innings later, UCSD would again come knocking, and this time they would get through. Josh Tanner would lead off the inning with a single and move to second on a single by Tim Mort. After a groundout advanced the runners one base each, the Tritons would break through on a ground out by Matt Lawson to score the runner from third. Hopps would keep his composure, however, and strike out the next batter looking.

After again threatening in the 4th frame, UCSD would break through in the 6th inning, capitalizing on two Toro errors for all four runs, the big blow coming on a Matt Cantele two-run double. It seemed the long 6th inning took its toll Triton starter Grubman, as Toro pinch hitter Cody Puckett (Apple Valley, CA/Hesperia HS) would lace a single up the middle, breaking up Grubman's bid at a perfect game. Fred Medina (Santa Ana, CA/Century HS) would come off the bench and follow with another single, and Houston Hernandez (La Mirada, CA/St. Paul HS) would get the Toros on the scoreboard, doubling to the gap in right center, scoring Puckett and Medina to cut the Triton lead to 5-2.

After the Tritons added a single run in the 7th inning, the Toros threatened in the bottom of the 8th as Puckett and Medina reached base with one out. Sensing trouble, UCSD brought in Trevor Decker in relief of Grubman, and Decker delivered, retiring all five CSUDH batters he faced to pick up the save.

Toro starter Hopps would pitch 5.2, giving up just one earned run in the loss (0-2). Offensively, Medina posted two hits on the afternoon, while Hernandez drove in both of the Toros runs.

CSUDH gets another chance at the Tritons next week as UCSD pays Toro Field a visit on Tuesday, February 14, with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m.