BOX SCORE Box Score:  UC San Diego 11, Sonoma State 6

LA JOLLA, Calif. --  Devon Zenn and Joel Thys both went 2 for 4 with a run scored, but the Sonoma State offense couldn't overcome several defensive errors early in the game, falling 11-6 to UC San Diego in game one of the four-game series between the two squads this weekend at Triton Ballpark in La Jolla.  The Seawolves drop to 18-11 this season and 16-5 in the CCAA, while the Tritons improve to 18-15 and 16-9 in conference play.

It was an uncharacteristic outing for Sonoma State starter Thomas Lee, as he gave up 10 runs, nine of which were earned, on 12 hits, while striking out six in just four and a third innings of work.  Lee was tagged with his first loss of the season, moving to 5-1.  Ryan Goodbrand got the start for the Tritons and tossed eight strikeouts in 5.2 innings.  He gave up six runs, all of them earned, on nine hits, receiving the win and improving to 6-0.

SSU started quickly, scoring a run in the top of the first on a Zenn single, scoring Evan Warner.  However, UC San Diego would not be held silent in their half of the first as Nick La Face tripled in a run, followed by an RBI single from Justin Rahn.  The Tritons scored three more times in the second inning when Danny Susdorf reached on a fielding error by second baseman Jackson Stogner.  It would score Spencer Frazier and Scott Liske before Richard Seigel delivered an RBI triple to left center field.  Susdorf's run was unearned, but the hosts took a 5-1 lead.

To lead off the top of the fourth inning, Zenn tripled down the right field line and would later score on a balk by Goodbrand.  After Thys singled up the middle in his at bat, Jeff Boulware brought home Thys for the Seawolves' second run of the inning, narrowing the SSU deficit to two runs at 5-3. 

However, the Tritons were able to tack on more runs in the fifth, as Brett Levy hit an RBI single, scoring Garrett Tuck.  Ryan O'Malley followed with a two-RBI double, scoring Levy and Rahn, then to make things worse for Sonoma State, a triple to right field by Liske scored O'Malley from second to put UCSD up 9-3.  Stogner's second throwing error of the game allowed Liske to score from third on the play, chasing Lee from the ballgame, trailing 10-3.  Reliever Joey Van Cleave came on in relief with one out in the fifth and quickly got the final two outs of the inning.  Van Cleave pitched the remainder of the game, allowing an unearned run on one hit while striking out three batters.

The Seawolves kept the chipping away at the now-seven-run deficit, however, as the visitors put up a three-run sixth inning, starting on an RBI single by Stogner to score Boulware.  Chad Rieser came in for Goodbrand and immediately ran into trouble, walking in a run on his first two batters.  A wild pitch on the walk to Steven Filippi would bring around Stogner to score behind Serrao, who scored due to the walk.  That would be it for Rieser as Richard Kilbury came in to get the final out of the inning, but not before SSU put three runs on the board, putting the score at 10-6. Kilbury pitched an inning and a third, holding the Seawolves' bats silent.

From then on, UCSD's trusty closer, Elias Tuma shut the door on Sonoma State.  He struck out three Seawolves and did not allow a run, nor a hit, in his two innings of work.  The Tritons, however, put one more run across in the bottom half of the eighth on a RBI double from La Face to lead 11-6.  Sonoma State would be retired in order in the ninth, ending the game.

Offensively for the Seawolves, Boulware went 1 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI while Stogner had a hit and scored a run, contributing an RBI as well.  For the Tritons, Liske went 3 for 4, scoring two runs and knocking in an RBI.  La Face and O'Malley had two RBI's and Seigal scored two runs in UCSD's winning effort.

Sonoma State and UC San Diego will continue the four-game series on Friday with a doubleheader; first pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. at Triton Ballpark.



CAPITAL CITY CLASH!
The Seawolves will take on rival Chico State at the home of the Triple-A Sacramento Rivercats, Raley Field, in Sacramento on April 22nd.  Tickets are on sale now!  Don't miss the Capital City Clash!