UC San Diego was hit hard Friday at Cougar Baseball Complex, falling to Azusa Pacific University, 13-2, to begin the West Super Regional of the 2019 NCAA Division II Championship.
With the loss, second-seeded UC San Diego drops to 38-14 overall. Top seed Azusa Pacific improves to 40-13.
The two-time reigning West Region champion Tritons must win twice on Saturday to defend their back-to-back titles and earn a return trip to Cary, N.C.
They will serve as the home team in the second meeting between the teams in Azusa at noon. Should UC San Diego take that matchup, the if-necessary finale would begin about 45 minutes following the last out of Saturday’s first game.
UCSD starter Brandon Weed (10-2) went 5.0 innings and allowed a season-high eight runs on 10 hits, no walks and a hit-by-pitch, striking out two.
In the loss, UC San Diego gave up the most runs and home runs in a game in 2019. It was also the team’s largest margin of defeat since a 21-10 loss to Cal State East Bay in 2015.
They had only given up multiple home runs in a game one other time this season, with Cal State LA connecting for five in La Jolla on last month.
UC San Diego is now 37-22 (.627) in its 11th NCAA Division II Championship appearance.
– Staff reports
