UC San Diego Takes Two, Cal Poly Pomona Still Alive in NCAA Regional Play
A seven-run sixth and a six-run seventh. That's all it took for the UC San Diego offense to break reverse the leader on the scoreboard and leap into the lead in successive contests at NCAA West Regional #2 Friday from Triton Ballpark.
The seven runs came as the Tritons were down 4-0 to MSU Billings in the day's opener, as the Yellowjackets were trying to stave off elimination from the brackets. R.J. Prince opened the sixth inning with a single that was followed by back-to-back walks to load the bases. Blake Baumgartner knocked in two from an RBI single and a walk for Aaron Kim again left the bags juiced for the Tritons.
Then, Alex Athenacio doubled to left to plate yet another pair and knot the game. A pitching change for MSU Billings ensued and the new hurler Jared Winslow preceded to fan the next Tritons two batters and leave the crowd thinking the rally would be halted with the game tied, but a hit batsman filled up the bases, and UC San Diego's inning-opening batter drew the walk to give the home team the one-run lead.
Things continue to unravel from the bump with back-to-back wild pitches bringing in one run apiece and by the time Shay Whitcomb struck out swinging the Tritons held the 7-4 advantage on the scoreboard. MSU Billings would get one back in the top of the seventh before succumbing to UC San Diego by a final tally of 7-5 and set up a best-of-three series with Point Loma to start less than an hour later.
In the nightcap, UC San Diego struck first in the top of the third, but the Sea Lions hung a four-run inning on the Tritons in the bottom of the fourth to jump in front. That's where the score would stay for the next two innings, until UC San Diego capitalized on Point Loma defensive errors to plate three in the bottom of the sixth and even the score at 4 apiece.
The seventh inning was when the Tritons' bats broke out with five straight singles to open the frame and give the designated visitors a two-run advantage. After a pitching change, the Sea Lions got their first out of the inning, but then Alex Eliopulos made his 200th career hit one to be remembered. A bases-clearing 3RBI triple set the score at 9-4, and the Tritons tacked on another after their third wild pitch scoring play of the day to make it 10-4.
UC San Diego added one more in the top of the eighth inning, but the Point Loma offense couldn't muster anything of note and the Tritons sit in the driver's seat of the three-team double-elimination regional bracket, needing just one more victory against the Sea Lions to advance to next weekend's West Super Regional. The two will face off for the second time in 2019 Saturday at 3:30 p.m., with a following if necessary game to cap the regional play from La Jolla.
Meanwhile in Azusa, the day started with Cal State Monterey Bay's elimination at the hands of No. 1 seed and West Region #1 host Azusa Pacific. The hard-fought loss ends the Otters season at 35-23 and moved the Cougars on to a best-of-three series against Cal Poly Pomona to advance to the West Super Regional.
Azusa Pacific jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but the Otters battled back to take the lead on a third inning homer by Kokko Figueiredo and a fifth-inning RBI single by Brian Morley. The Cougars retook the lead in its half of the fifth on a 2-run homer by Cole Klescz, but the Otters tied it right back up in their next at bats on a Reed Oster sacrifice fly.
That's where the game stood until No. 9 hitter Casey Dykstra hit a 2-out, solo home run in the seventh to account for the final margin. Figueiredo finished the day 2-for-5 to lead the Otter offense. TJ Dove hit his second double of the regional and scored a run in his final collegiate game.
Despite the one-run setback to cap the year, the Otters finished a strong season in which they posted the third most wins (35) in school history. 2019 CCAA regular- and postseason runners up, Cal State Monterey Bay has won 84 games over the past two seasons, the most successful two-year run in program history.
The second game at Azusa pitted the Cougars against the CCAA's hottest club, Cal Poly Pomona. After racing to the 2019 CCAA Baseball Tournament crown to earn a NCAA berth. After earning its third win in the last week over Cal State Monterey Bay to open the regional, Cal Poly Pomona advanced to take on Azusa Pacific Friday. The Broncos suffered a 15-3 setback against the Cougars, and will now have to take two from the home team Saturday to advance to next weekend's Super Regional.
Azusa Pacific, playing as the visiting team at their home park, wasted no time getting to starting pitcher Austin Isenhart in the top of the first inning with a two-run home run by the second batter of the game, Osvaldo Tovalin. The Cougars would tack on another run by way of a sacrifice fly to take a 3-0 lead before the Broncos came to bat.
Azusa Pacific added a run in the top of the third to make it 4-0, but the Broncos were able to threaten in the bottom of the third, loading the bases with one out. A sacrifice fly by Patrick Vizcaino made it 4-1, but that's all the Broncos would get.
From then on, the Cougars poured it on, plating eight runs over the next three innings to run away with the convincing win.
Outside of Vizcaino's sac fly, the only other Cal Poly Pomona runs came on a two-run home run by Dante Palacio in the seventh inning. The Broncos were held to seven hits, two coming off the bats of both Ryon Knowles and Angel Ortiz. The Cougars and Broncos play the second of the best-of-three on Saturday at noon.
2019 NCAA Division II Baseball Championship West Regional 1 & 2
UC San Diego & Azusa Pacific, Hosts.
(Double-Elimination Format)
Thursday, May 16
Game 1 (APU regional): No. 5 Cal Poly Pomona 11, No. 4 Cal State Monterey Bay 6 |
box score |
CPP postgame |
CSUMB postgame
Game 1 (UCSD regional): No. 3 Point Loma 3, No. 6 MSU Billings 2
Friday, May 17
Game 2 (APU regional): No. 1 Azusa Pacific 4, No. 4 Cal State Monterey Bay 3 |
box score | CSUMB postgame
Game 2 (UCSD regional): No. 2 UC San Diego 7, No. 6 MSU Billings 5 |
box score
Game 3 (APU regional): No. 1 Azusa Pacific 15, No. 5 Cal Poly Pomona 3 |
box score |
CPP postgame
Game 3 (UCSD regional): No. 2 UC San Diego 11, No. 3 Point Loma 4 |
box score |
UCSD postgame
Saturday, May 18
Game 4 (APU regional): No. 1 Azusa Pacific vs. No. 5 Cal Poly Pomona | Noon
Game 4 (UCSD regional): No. 2 UC San Diego vs. No. 3 Point Loma | 3:30 p.m.
Game 5 (both regionals): If necessary, following Game 4