Box Score

LOS ANGELES – Cal State L.A.'s baseball team enjoyed its first game of the season under the lights.

 

The Golden Eagles rallied from an early 4-0 deficit and beat UC San Diego, 5-4, Thursday evening in a California Collegiate Athletic Association game at Reeder Field. Cal State L.A. (18-11, 13-8 CCAA) banged out 12 hits in the game, including a go-ahead double in the seventh inning from Brian Compton.

 

The Golden Eagles fell into an early 4-0 hole after UC San Diego's first three at bats, but struck right back for three runs in the third and one in the fifth to tie it. The score remained tied until Compton drilled a shot to right-center that drove in Cliff Quick with what proved to be the winning run.

 

UC San Diego (20-9, 13-8 CCAA) had eight hits in the game and got three RBI from Aaron Bauman. After scoring one run in the first and three more in the third, though, the Tritons were blanked the rest of the way.

 

Wally Goodline battled back from a rocky third inning and went seven strong innings to pick up the win. He allowed seven hits and four runs, but allowed only one hit over the final four innings of his outing. He walked only one and struck out two and improved to 3-2 on the season.

 

Jacob Valenzuela was outstanding in relief, tossing two scoreless innings to pick up his second save of the season. He gave up one hit, a one-out double in the eighth to Kellen Lee and a walk to Nick La Face, but then retired the last five batters he faced. He struck out two.

 

Tim Shibuya worked the first seven innings and surrendered 11 hits and five runs, four of them earned. He took the loss and dropped to 6-2 on the season. Justin Burns worked around a one-out double in his one inning of scoreless relief.

 

Joe Park and Quick had three hits each to lead the Golden Eagles, while Chad Nacapoy had two hits. The top three batters in the Cal State L.A. lineup – Park, Nacapoy and Quick – combined for eight hits and scored all five runs.

 

Danny Susdorf and Lee had two hits each for the Tritons.

 

The Tritons struck first in the opening inning. Susdorf grounded a double down the left-field line and eventually scored on a groundout by Bauman. UC San Diego scored three runs after two were out to extend its lead to 4-0. Bauman had a two-run double and later scored on a single by Evan Kehoe.

 

Cal State L.A., though, fought back with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Quick and Noe Flores both singled in runs and the third run scored on an error.

 

The Golden Eagles tied the game in the fifth inning. Park and Nacapoy led off with singles and Quick reached on a bunt single. Brian Compton was then hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in the tying run.

 

Cal State L.A. scored the final run of the game in the seventh. Quick singled and raced home on a two-out double by Compton.

 

Valenzuela took it from there.

 

Cal State L.A. will continue the four-game series against UC San Diego on Friday with a 3 p.m. game at Reeder Field.