LA JOLLA, Calif. – Toro first baseman Jon Alia clubbed two home runs and two doubles as part of a 5-for-9, 8 RBI, 3-run day as the Toros turned the tables on 14th-ranked UC San Diego by taking a pair of 13-3 and 16-11 slugfests after the Tritons took the first two games of the series in Carson. With the sweep, the Toros improve to 11-18, 8-8 CCAA, while UCSD drops to 21-7, 11-4 CCAA.
CSUDH scored single runs in the first and second innings in the opener, the second run coming on a solo homerun by Eric Blackwell to lead 2-0.
In the UCSD second, Nick Burke led off with a double, advanced to second on a Benton bunt and scored on a Mort sac fly to bring UCSD within 2-1 through two.
In the bottom of the fifth, Mort led off with a double to centerfield and Chris Hom walked. The runners moved to second and third with one out on an error pick-off attempt. Imeson followed with a sac fly RBI to rightfield, driving in the tying run, an unearned run at 2-2 through five innings.
CSUDH's Kevin Pillar doubled with one out in the seventh to give the Toros a 3-2 lead. #Carlos Leyva# tripled to right field for an RBI to push the lead to 4-2. A sac fly by Candelario Flores upped the lead to 5-2.
In the UCSD seventh with one out, Hom hit a solo homerun to rightfield, making the score 5-3.
CSUDH's Cody Puckett and Alia hit back-to-back homeruns in the UCSD eighth, pushing the Toros ahead 7-3. The Toros would add two more runs before the inning ended and led 9-3.
CSUDH added four runs in the ninth for its 13 runs.
In the second game, Alia hit a three-run homerun in the first, putting CSUDH up 3-0.
In the bottom half of the first, Albitz singled and Imeson was hit. The Tritons perfected a double steal to put the runners on second and third. With one out, Chris Franco grounded out to the right side, driving in a run to make the score 3-1.
CSUDH added three more runs in the second inning to lead 6-1.
With two outs in the UCSD second, Justin Bono singled and Albitz doubled for an RBI to make the score 6-2.
CSUDH added five runs in the third, three coming on a two-out RBI double by Alia to lead 11-2.
Down 14-2 in the sixth inning, UCSD's Franco hit a two-out two-RBI single for two runs. After two more runs scored, Hom hit a grand slam to give UCSD nine in the inning and pull the Tritons within 14-11.
CSUDH added two unearned runs in the final inning for the 16-11 win.
The Toros continue CCAA baseball action against their southern California foes next week as cross-town rival Cal State L.A. visits Toro Field for single games on Thursday and Friday.
