[Game 1 box score] [Game 2 box score]
LA JOLLA, Calif. - The Wolves dropped both games of a doubleheader to No. 1 ranked UC San Diego to fall to 0-3 on the season. The Tritons improved to 4-1 with the wins.
Game 1
The No. 1 Tritons scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to earn a 5-4 win over the No. 18 Wolves.
Western Oregon battled from two runs back to take a one-run lead heading to the ninth. The Wolves scored one in the seventh on an RBI-single by Cesar Lopez to plate Joe Pratt from second. They then manufactured two runs in the eighth off a Tritons' error and a wild pitch to go up 4-3.
In the bottom of the ninth, the first three runners of the inning reached for the Tritons, and then they got a sacrifice fly to knot the game at 4-4. The Wolves proceeded to walk Vance Albitz to once again load the bases and set up the force at any base. However, the Tritons would not even need to put another ball in play as the following batter, Robert Sedin, was plunked by the pitch to score the winning run from third.
"We just couldn't close them out," Western Oregon head coach Jeremiah Robbins said.
Daniel Dillard collected two of the Wolves' five hits on the game going 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Pratt, Lopez and Logan Lotti had one hit apiece to account for the other three hits for WOU.
Evan Kehoe was 3-for-5 for UC San Diego, while Kyle Saul added two runs and three RBI as he went 1-of-3.
Guido Knudson (1-0) picked up the win for UC San Diego pitching a perfect two innings in relief. Matt Rossman started the game and went seven innings with one earned run and seven strikeouts. Cam Nobles (0-1) suffered the loss for WOU after giving up both ninth inning runs. Starter Michael Ward went six innings for the Wolves allowing three runs and seven hits while striking out five.
Game 2
Daniel Simmons pitched a complete game, giving up one run and five hits while striking out eight and walking one, to propel UC San Diego to a 6-1 in game two.
The Tritons scored three runs in the second innings before adding on one in the third and two more in the fourth. Vance Albitz and Danny Susdorf both went 2-for-3 for UC San Diego, and Michael Benton added a two-run home run.
Cesar Lopez collected two of the Wolves' five hits and also scored their only run. Devon Bouvier, Kyle Boe and Grant Glover each added a hit.
Jacob Pettit (0-1) took the loss for WOU after being charged with six runs and 10 hits over four innings of work.
Coach Robbins on the games
"These are tough losses," said WOU head coach Jeremiah Robbins. "We need to put together a good game."
"We are playing a very good team 1-9 but we need to be better," noted Robbins.
"The kids are learning as we go, we just need to play a complete game," continued Robbins. "We will be fine."