Central Missouri Falls in 11 Innings to No. 1 UCSD

CARY, N.C. (UCM Media Relations) – Top-ranked UC-San Diego pulled out a 2-1, 11-inning victory on Monday night over No. 3 Central Missouri, thanks to a complete game two-hitter from Matt Rossman.

The first hit for either team in the game didn't come until the fifth inning, as the Tritons got a couple off UCM starter Ryan Allen. He got out of the jam without any damage though. Alex Kent came on to start the sixth after five shutout innings from Allen, and didn't allow a Triton hit until the eighth.

Rossman, a right-hander, was lights out for UCSD. He walked the leadoff batter of the game and then retired 21 consecutive Mules through seven frames. He also struck out a tournament-high 12 batters while walking only two.

UC-San Diego got on the board first in the eighth inning on an RBI knock to left from left fielder Aaron Bauman to score Grant Bauer from second base.

Central Missouri ended Rossman's no-hit bid with a leadoff double from Tyler Ruch in the bottom half of the eighth though. Jon Wegener ruined the shutout bid on the next at-bat with an RBI double to left field, tying the score at one. The Mules failed to get Wegener home though, stranding him after being at second with no outs.

UCSD got back on the board in the 11th, thanks to an RBI single from catcher Kellen Lee off UCM right-hander Nick Phillips. Aaron Brett came in to minimize the damage for the Mules and got the next two outs, but a single through the right side looked like it might score another run for the Tritons. Instead, a play at the plate saw Lee slide hard into UCM catcher Albert Selanders and get called out due to a shoulder in his chest.

Central Missouri went down 1-2-3 with a couple strikeouts in the bottom half of the inning to give end the night at roughly 1:00 a.m. The game started at 9:30 p.m. due to a rain delay.

The Mules generated only the two eighth inning hits in the game, while UCSD put up 10 and stranded 11 on base. It was the lowest run and hit total of the season for Central Missouri.

UCM will now play in an elimination game on Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. Central time against No. 4 Georgia College and State University.