Box Score: #21 UC San Diego 8, #16 Sonoma State 6

ROHNERT PARK, Calif- In an emotionally-charged series finale between two nationally-ranked teams that featured a grand slam by O'Koyea Dickson, a record-breaking double by Kyle Jones and four ejections, it was UC San Diego that rallied for four runs in the final three innings to defeat Sonoma State, 8-6, on Sunday afternoon at Seawolf Diamond.

The 16th-ranked Seawolves lost three of four to the 21st-ranked Tritons (24-12, 17-11 CCAA) this weekend, falling to 22-10 overall and 15-10 in the CCAA.

It didn't start off the way the Seawolves wanted it to start as Nick La Face hammered a two-run home run in the top of the first off SSU starter Joshua Nervis to take the early 2-0 lead. Just one batter later, Aaron Bauman took a 3-2 pitch over the right field fence for back-to-back home runs and the 3-0 lead before Sonoma State grabbed the bats.

Kevin Cramer put the Seawolves on the scoreboard with a single through the right side, scoring Alex Todd, who reached on a nine-pitch walk to lead off the second inning. It didn't take long for UC San Diego to get the run back, though, as La Face sent a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Kyle Saul from third.

Trailing 4-1 in the bottom of the third, Dickson singled through the right side off new UCSD pitcher Justin Burns, scoring Steven Filippi from second base to trail by two at 4-2.

An inning later, the Seawolves had a shot to close the gap to just one run on a single by Cramer, but right fielder Saul threw Cerrudo out at home after he was trying to score, ending the Seawolf fourth.

It was in the fifth that the emotions starting running through both teams as UCSD's Burns threw behind Ryan Morales before hitting him on the next pitch. It drew the immediate ejection for Burns. Sonoma State fed off the adrenaline and emotion, loading the bases for Dickson with no outs. On the first pitch he saw from Greg Selarz, Dickson blasted the grand slam over the left field fence and sending the Seawolf faithful into a frenzy.

Later that inning, after a walk to Todd, Jones doubled down the right field line and Todd tried scoring from first, but was thrown out at home. The double was Jones' 49th of his career, which broke the former record of 48 held by former student-athlete Derek Bell, now the assistant coach at Cal State Monterey Bay. It was his team-leading 13th two-base hit of the season. Sonoma State couldn't tack on any more runs as Tony York came in to force the final two outs, ending the inning, but not before the Seawolves took the 6-4 lead.

Ater a scoreless sixth, the Tritons put three more runs up on the scoreboard to take a 7-6 lead on a couple of RBI singles and a bases loaded walk given up by Connor Smith, who relieved Nervis in the sixth. All three runs were unearned runs, though, due to a fielding error that started the inning.

UC San Diego put up an insurance run in the top of the ninth on an error by right fielder Cameron Cook after a single by Blake Tagmyer landed in front of Cook and rolled all the way to the fence. It allowed Tagmyer to get to second and Saul to score from first.

In their final chance to salvage the doubleheader split, Dickson reached base on a two-out infield single, but was forced out when Todd sent a ground ball to short stop, ending the game.

Smith (1-1) was tagged with the loss despite not giving up an earned run. He tossed one and a thirds innings, allowing two hits, three unearned runs while striking out two. Nervis went five innings, giving up two hits, four runs and four walks, but fanned six batters. Joey Van Cleave came on in the seventh to scatter four hits and allow one unearned run.

Dickson led the way with three hits, five RBI and one run scored, including the grand slam in the fifth. Cramer went 3 for 4 with a RBI as well.

For the Tritons, York (1-0) earned his first decision of the season, giving up two hits in three innings of work. Elias Tuma got his fourth save after holding Sonoma State scoreless in one and two-thirds innings on the mound. La Face had three RBI and Bauman had two. Tagmyer went 2 for 4.

Sonoma State will travel to Hayward on Tuesday in a rescheduled doubleheader against Cal State East Bay. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. The Seawolves will then begin a four-game series with San Francisco State on Friday. Games one and four will be in San Francisco on Friday and Sunday, respectively, as the two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday in Rohnert Park.