Long Beach Sate saw the return of an important rotation arm that could give them a boost the rest of the season, though he wouldn’t figure in today’s decision. See who is back on the mound.
Two other familiar faces provided today’s highlights as a pair of seniors that have battled through adversity produced a school hitting record and a first career save.
That plus all of Tuesday’s Southern California college baseball action with highlights from UCLA and a CBD photo gallery from Eddy D. Field Stadium in Malibu:
#14 UCLA 2, Long Beach State 1
Not known as a strikeout pitcher, David Berg got a big one with one out and two runners in scoring position. The All-American closer then induced a chopper to third that Chris Keck made a nice play on to end the game. UCLA (15-8) survived with a 2-1 victory.
The teams traded runs in the first inning, though Long Beach looked to have first executed a first-and-third double steal that would have provided a much-needed run, but Colby Brenner was called out at the plate in a bang-bang play (see for yourself in the highlights below).
The deciding run, unexcitedly, came on a ground out to first base. With the bases loaded, Ino Patron stepped on first and fired home, but never got a great grip on the ball and it sailed to the backstop.
The inning had started on a check swing roller to first base that Patron and pitcher Cody Marshall failed to communicate on, allowing Shane Zeile a gift infield single. A hit by pitch and walk loaded the bases with no outs, setting up Kevin Williams’ go-ahead grounder to first.
Ryan Strufing made his first appearance since having Tommy John surgery last season. Strufing threw 27 of his 40 pitches for strikes, allowing three hits and one run in two innings.
Here are the highlights from the Pac-12 Networks:
San Diego State 12, Santa Clara 4
Evan Potter was an In-N-Out Burger demon, killing a pair of double-doubles. Potter didn’t just knock two doubles — a double-double. Instead the senior shortstop had a career day, knocking a school-record four doubles. He also scored two runs and drove in two more to lead San Diego State (18-6) to a 12-4 win.
The Aztecs knocked 16 hits. Brad Haynal finished a double shy of hitting for the cycle (3-5, R, 3B, HR, 3 RBI). Greg Allen had two hits, three runs, two RBI and three stolen bases. Tim Zier added two hits, two RBI & SB.
T.J. Kendzora picked up his third win. Quinton Perry homered for the Broncos (9-15).
USC 4, Loyola Marymount 2
USC (13-10) took a 3-0 advantage in the third inning and rode it to the end. Both teams struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities with a combined 23 men left on base. Loyola Marymount (15-10) left eight on base in the first four inning and another two in each the sixth and seventh inning.
Sean Adler picked up the win in relief while senior James Guillen faced the minimum in two innings to collect his first career save. Garrett Stubbs had two hits and scored twice for USC. Kevin Swick had two hits and an RBI.
LMU leadoff hitter Austin Miller reached three times, stole a base and scored the Lions’ only run — coming home on Tommy Cheek’s seventh sacrifice fly of the year, tying him for the national lead.
UC Santa Barbara 5, Fresno State 4 (10 innings)
Chris Mariscal put Fresno State ahead, 4-3, with a two-run homer in the eighth inning, but the Gauchos (18-3) tied the game in their final at bat when pinch runner Scott Quinlan came across on a passed ball.
UC Santa Barbara took the game in extra innings. The nation’s second leading hitter, Joey Epperson, got his first hit in five at bats to start the frame. Cameron Newell later singled him home for the winning run. Newell finished with three hits.
UCSB closer Dillon Tate pitched three scoreless innings to get his first win of the season.
Cal State Northridge 4, Pepperdine 2
Matadors’ closer Shay Maltese entered with the bases loaded in the eighth inning and got a fly out to escape the jam. Maltese then shut down the Waves 1-2-3 in the final frame to give Northridge (11-14) a three-game win streak.
The Waves (17-7) took an early 2-0 lead, but CSUN battled back. Brett Balkan tied the game with a two-run double in the fourth inning. Northridge went ahead in Balkan’s next at bat when he reached on an infield single and an error allowed a runner to score from second base. Playing against his former team, Ranny Lowe doubled home an insurance run.
Hutton Moyer had three hits, scored one of Pepperdine’s runs and drove in the other.
Here’s CBD photographer David Cohen’s top photos from the game:
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UC Irvine 7, CSU Bakersfield 4
Ryan Cooper knocked an eighth inning two-out, two-run pinch hit double to break a 4-4 tie and propel UC Irvine (16-8) to a victory in a game that’s start was delayed when the umpires got stuck in traffic — welcome to Southern California!
Connor Spencer was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle, going a perfect 4-for-4 with a double, homer, walk and two RBI. Taylor Sparks also homered and Sam Moore pitched a pair of scoreless innings for his nation-leading 10th save of the season.
Bakersfield’s Max Carter had three hits while Allen Gwynn reached base four times and had an RBI.
San Diego 13, UC Riverside 8
Every year when San Diego (16-8) goes to UC Riverside (11-10), it’s a crazy game. San Diego won in the ninth inning two years ago. The Highlanders scored in eight straight innings for a come-from-behind, walk-off win last year. This year was no different.
Riverside tied the game in the seventh. USD scored three runs in the eighth. UCR fired back with three of its own. But in the ninth inning, San Diego took advantage of Riverside’s fifth and sixth errors, scoring five runs to take a 13-8 lead and Josh Goossen-Brown closed out the Highlanders in the bottom half for his first win as a Torero.
San Diego’s Austin Bailey had the game-winning hit witha two-run single in the ninth. He finished 2-for-3, 3 R, 2 RBI, HBP. UC Riverside squandered a 16-hit effort due to their defensive ineptitude costing them seven unearned runs. Matthew Ellis led the Highlanders with four hits while Nick Vilter, Devyn Bolasky and Thomas Walker each reached base three times.
