LA JOLLA—For the second straight day, a promising start fell apart for the Chico State baseball team. Eighth-ranked UC San Diego took advantage of a Wildcats pitching staff struggling to throw strikes to win the series finale 11-2.
 
Saturday, the Tritons rallied from a 4-2 deficit after Chico State pitchers walked the bases full in the eighth inning. All three of those runners came around to score as the Tritons took the lead for good and went on to capture a doubleheader sweep.
 
Chico State jumped out to a 2-0 lead Sunday before UC San Diego scored six times in the bottom of the second on only two hits. Wildcats pitchers walked four and hit one in the inning. All five of those baserunners scored.
 
The Wildcats walked six and hit two in the game, falling to 2-7 on the season when surrendering eight or more free passes (walks and HBP combined). The good news? The Wildcats are 13-4 in all other games. If they can remedy those control woes, they have a good chance to win a lot of games as they head into the second half of their conference slate.
 
Chico State fell to 15-11 overall and 11-10 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association with Sunday's loss. UC San Diego improved to 20-5 overall and 15-5 in the CCAA.
 
The Wildcats grabbed an early lead in their quest for a series split. JT Navarro singled to lead off the game, and with one out, Dustin Miller tripled to bring him in. Alex DeVito followed Miller's triple with an RBI double to make it 2-0.
 
DeVito, who has now reached safely in 22 consecutive games, finished 3-for-4. Navarro, who has at least one hit in 15 of his last 16 games, banged out a pair of hits.
 
Chico State will be back in action this weekend, hosting a four-game series against Cal State San Marcos at Nettleton Stadium.