LA JOLLA – The Chico State baseball team dropped a 9-1 decision to host UC San Diego in a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) winners’ bracket game Thursday afternoon. They’ll now play in an elimination game against rival Sonoma State at 7 p.m.
 
On the line will be a chance to get some revenge against UC San Diego on Saturday at noon. The Tritons (31-21) will have two chances to win the conference tournament crown, however, since they are unbeaten this weekend. The Wildcats may also be playing to control their own destiny in terms of an NCAA Championship Tournament berth. They entered the weekend ranked No. 2 in the region and UC San Diego is No. 4. Sonoma State is not ranked, but could get in by earning the automatic berth that goes to this weekend’s tournament champion.
 
That could put the Wildcats’ spot on the line if UC San Diego’s win proves to be enough to vault the Tritons over Chico State in the rankings.
 
Chico State (37-15) lost for just the third time in the last 14 games, notching just five hits in the game. Ben Manlove slapped on RBI-single through the right side to plate Shane Kroker with the Wildcats’ lone run in the third.
 
That briefly tied the score at 1-1 before the Tritons scored a run in the third and two more in the fourth to take control. They broke it open in the seventh on Scott Liske’s grand slam/
 
Ryan O’Shea took the loss for the Wildcats, falling to 3-2. The sophomore was making his first start in 10 weeks and proved a bit rusty, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits in three and two-thirds innings.
 
Ryan Goodbrand (10-0) earned the win for UC San Diego, tossing eight strong innings. He gave up just five hits, struck out five, and didn’t walk a batter.
 
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