Toros Fall Short in Comeback Attempt in 7-6 Loss Against No. 14 UC San Diego

Box Score

Carson, CA - The Toros spotted 14th-ranked UC San Diego three runs in their first inning at-bat and played catch up all afternoon as the Tritons had just enough in their bullpen to keep CSUDH one step behind and take game two of the series 7-6. With the loss CSUDH falls to 9-18, 6-8 CCAA and UCSD improves to 21-5, 11-2 CCAA.

UCSD got things going quickly in the first inning on a three-run shot to left by Chris Franco on the first offering from Toro starter Jeff Phillips.

The Toro offense was up to the challenge and, after a lead off single by Candelario Flores followed by a double to left by Jon Alia two batters later, Brian Sturgis laced a single through the left side to drive home Flores and Eric Blackwell sent the first pitch he saw down the left field line for an RBI double, bringing home Alia.

Nick Burk led off the second for the Tritons and hit a solo shot to center field, but Alia matched that long ball in the bottom of the third for his fourth home run of the season to keep CSUDH within one at 4-3.

Both teams kept the pressure on the starting pitchers with UCSD pushing across three runs in the top of the fourth and the Toros scoring two more in the bottom of the inning.

Down two in the bottom of the seventh, Alia and Sturgis recorded back-to-back hits, and Blackwell once again brought home Alia with a single to left, placing runners on first and second with no outs.

The Toros looked as if they were in prime scoring position after a sacrifice bunt moved the runners up, but Triton reliever Tim Shibuya got a much-needed strikeout for the second out and, after walking Carlos Leyva to load the bases, induced a rally-thrwarting ground ball to end the inning.

After Shibuya set the Toros down in order in the eighth, closer Keith Noe picked up his fourth save with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Lost in the decision was strong relief performance by the Toros' Phillip Van Doren, who allowed no runs and just four hits in 4.2 innings of work, while striking out five batters and tossing 92 pitches on the afternoon.

Alia led the offense at the plate with three hits, while Flores, Sturgis, and Blackwell each chipped in two hits apiece.

The two teams will conclude the four-game series tomorrow, with the twinbill scheduled for an 11:00 am first pitch in La Jolla, CA.

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