LA JOLLA, Calif-  UC San Diego used a ninth inning rally to defeat Sonoma State 5-4 on Sunday afternoon in the finale of a four-game baseball series in La Jolla.  After a split in the series, second-ranked Sonoma State goes to 37-7, 21-5 CCAA.  The UC San Diego Tritons, ranked No. 8 in the nation, go to 36-11, 20-8 CCAA.

Tied at four in the bottom of the ninth, Sonoma State reliever Tyler Fockler gave up two singles, then hit a batter before walking Matt Cantele to bring in the game-winning run.

UC San Diego took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a solo homer by Cantele.  The Seawolves jumped ahead in the second on a two-run home run from Mark Pestorich. 

After the Tritons tied the game in the second, the Seawolves took a 3-2 lead when Kyle Jones singled, then scored on an error.  Ian Bridges then drove in Konrad Thieme with a single of his own to make it 4-2. 

The Tritons tied things up one inning later when, in the fourth, Tim Bonelli and Vance Albitz drove in runs.

The game stayed tied until the ninth inning when UC San Diego mounted their rally.

Jones and Bridges had two hits each for Sonoma State.  Bridges' 2-for-4 day lifted his CCAA-high batting average to .412. 

Max Smoot got the start for Sonoma State and tossed three innings, giving up three runs and striking out one.  He gave way to Nick O'Brien, who tossed three innings and surrendered one run.  Rashad Tucker hurled a scoreless seventh inning for the Seawolves.

Sonoma State is back in action on Friday when they host Cal State Stanislaus in a big CCAA doubleheader.

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