LA JOLLA, Calif. -- Chico State beat some top-line starting pitchers the first two weekends of the season. But the Wildcats were unable to solve UC San Diego starter Justin Donatella in an 8-1 loss in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) opener for both teams Friday night at Triton Ballpark.
Donatella (1-1) dominated the Wildcats over six scoreless innings, allowing only a first-inning double to Jeffrey Ortega. He struck out six and walked two.
Eighth-ranked Chico State saw its four-game winning streak snapped and fell to 4-2 on the season. UC San Diego, ranked 39th in the nation, is now 4-2.
The Tritons beat Chico State ace Nick Baker (1-1) who had a rare off night. Baker allowed six runs on seven hits in the third inning in just his eighth loss in four seasons. He cruised through the first two frames but only managed to get one out in the third.
Chico State's relief corps cooled the Tritons' offense. Robert Hook allowed two runs on three hits in three and two-thirds innings, Derek Sesma struck out the side in the seventh and Jesse Silva tossed a scoreless eighth.
The Wildcats finally got on the board in the ninth inning when Connor Huesers led off with a single and eventually scored on a wild pitch.
Chico State's only other dangerous chance came in the first when Eric Angerer drew a one-out walk and Ortega doubled. But Danny Miller struck out and Ruben Padilla grounded out to end the threat. Padilla went 0-for-4 and saw his five-game hitting streak end.
No. 3 St. Edward's 6, Colorado Christian 2
No. 3 St. Edward's 6, Colorado Christian 0
AUSTIN, Texas -- Third-ranked St. Edward's rebounded from a rough two-week start with a doubleheader sweep of Colorado Christian on Friday afternoon at Lucian-Hamilton Field. The Hilltoppers got two great pitching performances from Brannon Easterling and Collin Sherrod to win the games 6-2 and 6-0.
In game one, St. Edward's (4-4) opened the scoring in the second inning. Ransom LaLondeled off the inning with a walk. After stealing second, LaLonde advanced to third on a ground out by Dylan Watts. Jay Shinderson would drive LaLonde in for the first run of the game on a groundout to second base.
Colorado Christian (1-4) got a run back in the fourth inning when D. Conley led off with a single to right, in which he also advanced to second on a misplay by rightfielder Myles Wright. Conley would score on a single by Chisolm Whitt with one out. Hilltopper starting pitcher Easterling wasn't charged with the unearned run, and he buckled down to strikeout the next two batters.
The Hilltoppers broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth inning when LaLonde led off with a walk. After LaLonde moved to second on a balk and third after a sacrifice bunt by Watts, Shinderson, again drove in LaLonde on a ground ball. The Cougars would walk the next two batters to load up the bases. With two outs, Kevin Mayo laced a double to the gap in right field to plate two runs. After Cutter Runte was hit by a pitch, Wes Koenig singled up the middle to score two more runs to make it 6-1.
Easterling would take it from there, as he tossed his third consecutive complete game. This time he got the win, allowing two runs (both unearned) on five hits. He walked one and struck out eight batters in his first win on the year. He lowered his ERA to 0.86.
In game two, it was the starting pitchers who took center stage. St. Edward's Starter Sherrod kept the visitors off of the scoreboard through the first six innings. He had a string where he struck out five consecutive batters. Cougar starting pitcher Mark McMahon was equally tough, throwing five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits over that time.
In the sixth inning, Koenig reach on a one-out single. He advanced to second on a single by LaLonde. After a strikeout and a walk loaded the bases, that set the stage for Wright. He launched a ball into the wind in left field and burned the Cougar left fielder. Wright would clear the bases with his first career triple.
Sherrod was strong in the shutdown inning immediately following. He did allow a leadoff single but left the runner stranded after getting three consecutive outs.
The Hilltoppers added another un in the bottom of the seventh on a bases-loaded walk by Watts, and two more in the eighth on an RBI-single by A.J. Hermanson and a sacrifice fly from Ryan Dolezeal to make it 6-0.
Kyle Seithel came on to pitch the eighth and ninth innings and was fantastic, allowing just two hits and striking out four batters.
Sherrod (2-0) picked up the victory, allowing four hits, while walking four and striking out eight. He lowered his ERA to 0.90.
