SANTA ROSA, Calif- Rochelle Vanyi hit the go-ahead home run in the bottom of sixth inning and pitcher Samantha Lipperd pitched out of a huge bases loaded jam with no outs to preserve the 4-3 victory over UC San Diego in game two of Sunday's doubleheader at Santa Rosa Junior College. Sonoma State fell to the Tritons in the opener, 2-0. The Seawolves improve to 11-4 overall and 6-2 in the CCAA. UCSD falls even at 8-8 overall and 6-6 in conference play.

After being shutout in game one, Sonoma State made sure they wouldn't be in game two. After Janelle Arnold was hit by a pitch, Danielle D'Eccliss advanced her to second on a sacrifice bunt. Ashley Britton then singled down the right field line, easily scoring Arnold from second to put the Seawolves up 1-0.

UC San Diego made a comeback in the fourth, scoring two runs on a couple of hits and an error to take the 2-1 lead. In the next offensive opportunity for Sonoma State, LeeAnn Stroud continued her dominance at the plate, leading the inning off with a double, then scored on another double by Kayla Ledford to even the score at two. Vanessa Currie brought Ledford in on a single to right center for the go-ahead run and the 3-2 lead.

The Tritons evened things up again in the top of the sixth at 3-3, but Lipperd came up big, allowing just one run to score even though UC San Diego loaded the bases with no outs.

That's when Vanyi took things into her own hands, smashing a solo home run to right field, giving SSU the 4-3 advantage.

Déjå vu. Lipperd again loaded the bases in the top of the seventh, but this time with two outs. On a 1-0 count, Lipperd forced Mandi Eliades to fly out to right field to end the game, helping the Seawolves to salvage the split on Sunday afternoon.

Vanyi led Sonoma State with two hits, including the game-winning home run. Lipperd went the distance, earning her sixth win this season (6-1) while giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits, striking out four. Third baseman Britton was one of Lipperd's biggest allies on defense, as she assisted on nine putouts.

Brittany Sheats got the loss in relief for the Tritons, giving up the home run to Vanyi in the sixth. She tossed two and two-thirds innings, giving up just the one hit -- to Vanyi. Kris Lesovsky got two of the four UCSD hits in the nightcap.

In game one, Sonoma State pitcher Julianne Martinez gave up a solo home run in the second inning to Kellin Haley, then Lesovsky had an RBI single, scoring Dyanna Imoto for the 2-0 lead.

Despite nine hits in the game, including two by Stroud and Ledford, the Seawolves couldn't get any runs across the plate. It was the second time this season Sonoma State was shutout.

Martinez gave up six hits and two runs (only one earned).

Sonoma State will travel to Hayward on Friday (1 p.m.) and Saturday (Noon) to take on Cal State East Bay in a four-game series.

Box Scores
UC San Diego 2, Sonoma State 0
Sonoma State 4, UC San Diego 3