LA JOLLA, Calif. --- The CSU Monterey Bay baseball team hammered out 19 hits in defeating #8 UC San Diego 17-16 this afternoon in La Jolla. #Brian Callen# picked up his second win of the season for the Otters (17-35, 9-27 CCAA) . CSUMB finishes the year on a two game win streak and series split with the nationally ranked Tritons (41-14, 25-11 CCAA).
#Matt Ralls# (4-5, 1 RBI) led off the game with a single up the middle to begin what would be a three hour and 45 minute battle of the bats at the Triton's home field. Also recording multiple hits for the Otters were #Matt DeJesus# (3-6, 4 RBI), #Steve Mays# (3-6, 2 RBI), #Jayson Furia# (2-3), #Jacob Flores# (2-4), and #Cody Guarnera# (2-4).
CSUMB got off to a quick start, scoring one in the first and three runs in the second to take a four run lead early in the game. Both teams refused to end on a quiet note scoring a combined 22 runs in the final three innings.
The Otters' highest offensive output of the year included a seven run, seventh inning. The inning began with a double off the bat of Guarnera and a triple from Ralls, who finished with 34 hits on the season. The Tritons didn't help themselves, as three Otters reached base after being hit by a pitch. DeJesus's 2-RBI single was followed by a double from Mays and a triple from Flores.
Down nine runs going into the bottom half of the ninth, the Tritons came alive with seven hits and eight runs off the bats of James Ferguson, Josh Tanner, Tony Bonelli, Vance Albitz, Chris Franco, and Garraett Imeson. CSUMB eventually closed out the win behind the pitching of #Michael Trump# and #Daniel Bifano#, who finished the game for the Otters.
Pitching a total of three innings was Callen (2-3) who picked up his second win on the season. He gave up five of the Tritons 23 hits and allowed one earned run. Nick Rodieck (1-1) received the loss for the Tritons allowing one hit and three earned runs.
With the 2008 season in the books, DeJesus led in three offensive categories with 64 hits, 43 RBI and 35 runs scored. Ralls finished with a .386 average and Callen became the fifth Otter this year to pick up two wins.
[VIEW GAME RESULTS]
[VIEW FINAL 2008 SESASON STATISTICS]
