LA JOLLA, Calif. - Tim Shibuya became UCSD's all-time leader in pitching wins as the No. 2 Tritons defeated No. 17 Mesa State, 6-1, Friday night at Triton Ballpark. The victory gave Shibuya the 31st of his career, more than any other player in program history.
UCSD improved to 4-1 with the win. It was the first game of the season for Mesa State, located in Grand Junction, Colo.
Eight Triton batters combined for the 13 hits as UCSD had at least one hit in six of eight innings.
Shibuya (W, 2-0), a senior out of Jackson, Wyo., went six solid innings, giving up no runs and scattering five hits to win his second game in as many starts. The All-American walked just one while striking out eight, one short of his career high. Shibuya overtook Trevor Decker, who recorded 30 wins between 2006 and 2009.
The UCSD offense wasted no time giving Shibuya some runs to work with as the Tritons put up a three spot in the bottom of the first inning.
Left fielder Aaron Bauman led off with an infield single and advanced to second on a passed ball. Centerfielder Danny Susdorf scored Bauman on a single to left center. The Tritons loaded the bases on two straight walks by Mesa State starter Tim Moore (L, 0-1) and Susdorf was plated on a sacrifice fly.
UCSD's third run came in the form of a double steal. With DH K.C. Rentfro on first, right fielder Kyle Saul at third and catcher Michael Benton at the plate, Rentfro broke for second, drawing a throw from the Mavericks' catcher. Saul took off from third and slid in to home, putting the Tritons up 3-0.
In the UCSD half of the fifth, the Tritons again juiced the bases with three straight singles. An ensuing RBI walk to Benton gave the Tritons a 4-0 lead. UCSD scored two more in the sixth. Saul doubled to right center to plate Susdorf, who had reached on a single. With two outs, second baseman Blake Tagmyer knocked in Saul with a base hit to right.
Five different players had a RBI for the Tritons. Susdorf finished 3-for-4 with two runs. Bauman, Saul and Tagmyer all had two hits.
The Mavericks broke up the shutout bid in the bottom of the ninth. With one out, UCSD reliever Eric Abraham walked Brian Bello. Joe Schmidtbauer placed a ball down the left field down, advancing Bello to third, who scored on an infield ball off the bat of pinch hitter Ian McKnight.
Right fielder Greg Anderson went 3-for-3 for the Mavericks.
Both squads left 10 runners stranded on base.
Moore suffered the loss, giving up four runs on 10 hits over four and a third innings. He struck out two and walked three.
The two teams play a doubleheader Saturday, Feb. 12 starting at noon. Tickets are available at Triton Ballpark starting at 11 a.m. UCSD students are free with a valid ID.
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