LA JOLLA -- Cal State LA's baseball team used one big inning to earn a California Collegiate Athletic Association victory over UC San Diego on Saturday in La Jolla.
The Golden Eagles erupted for nine runs in the eighth inning to stun the Tritons, 9-1, at Triton Ballpark. Cal State LA (6-12, 5-2 CCAA) has won two of the first three games of the four-game series. The status of Sunday's finale, scheduled for seven innings, will be determined on Sunday morning depending on the weather.
Christian Broussard, Jr. had a bases-clearing three-run double to highlight the nine-run eighth inning uprising that erased a 1-0 deficit. Cal State LA scored the nine runs on six hits and took advantage of four walks and three UC San Diego errors.
Justin Davis pitched three scoreless innings of relief to get the win. He allowed one hit while walking one and striking out four in his best outing of the season.
Mitchell Moore had an effective start, going six strong innings while allowing only three hits and one run. Moore walked four and struck out five.
Broussard,
Armett Johnson and
Isaac Dominguez had two hits each for Cal State LA, which outhit the Tritons, 11-4.
Angel Sanchez scored two runs and also drove in two.
UC San Diego took a 1-0 lead in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by Christian Leung that drove in Jack Larsen. Preston Mott scattered five hits over seven scoreless innings, but he received a no-decision after Cal State LA scored the nine runs against five UC San Diego relievers.
Sanchez was hit by a pitch to start the inning and took second on a failed pickoff attempt. Dominguez then singled him in to tie the game at 1-1. After Johnson drew a walk,
Dakota Hernandez dropped down a bunt to move the runners over.
Ryan Welker walked to load the bases and
Nathan Navarrete drew a bases-loaded walk to force in the go-ahead run. Broussard then doubled to left to score three and make it 5-1.
Paul Martinez followed with a walk and Sanchez hit a two-run triple and scored on a wild throw to make it 8-1. Dominguez then singled, Johnson singled him to second and Hernandez singled him in to make it 9-1.
Davis retired the Tritons without incident in the eighth and ninth to complete the win.
The decision on whether Sunday's game will be played as scheduled will be made on Sunday morning.
