LA JOLLA, Calif. - The 3rd-ranked UC San Diego baseball team (5-1) returns to action with back-to-back doubleheaders on February 12-13 against Grand Canyon (3-1). First pitch of the first game on each day is set for 11:00 a.m. at Triton Ballpark. Last week, UCSD faced No. 18 Western Oregon and swept the four game series. This week will be UCSD's final games before the start of conference action when it hosts Chico State on February 19-21. The Tritons lead the all-time series against the Antelopes 28-19 and have won the last 11 meetings between the two squads. UCSD took three games in Phoenix last season by a combined score of 36-9.
Grand Canyon enters the week with a 3-1 mark, defeating Regis by scores of 11-6, 17-6 and 15-3. GCU lost a 4-3 decision.
GCU features plenty of offense as the Antelopes hit at a .397 clip as a team against Regis. P.J. Garcia led the way going 8-for-12 with two doubles and Joey Jacobson hit at a .583 clip. Tyler Bair (.467), Joey Bristyan (.429) and Danny Bethea (.417) all hit over .400.
On the mound, Kevin Burbank and Danny Skelly won their starts, going 5.0 innings each. Jeff Urlaub and Colin Courtland also started games for GCU. Urlaub and Courtland combined to strikeout 13 batters in 12.1 innings.
The Tritons have hit at a .390 clip in their first six games. Danny Susdorf leads UCSD with a .583 average while Matt Hubbard is hitting at a .545 clip. Vance Albitz has the most hits with 13 and total bases with 21. Albitz is hitting at a .481 clip.
The Tritons hit seven homeruns in the four game set against Western Oregon, with Michael Benton hitting two homeruns.
UCSD continues to be one of the top fielding teams in the nation. Last year UCSD led the nation with a .983 fielding percentage. Through six games this season, the Tritons own a .982 fielding percentage.
On the mound, UCSD has a team ERA of 4.33. Tim Shibuya is 2-0 with a 4.50 ERA and Matt Rossman has two no-decisions despite a 2.70 ERA. Daniel Simmons and Kirby St. John have each won starts. In relief, Elias Tuma has seen action in four games, while Sean Greer and Richard Kilbury have made three appearances apiece.
