Three freshman led US International University to...
Three freshman led US International University to a 10-8 victory over Cal State Los Angeles in a nonconference game. Darrin Forster, the nephew of former major leaguer Terry Forster, went three-for-three with two doubles and four runs scored. Sean Darrock sparked a four-run fourth inning with a two-run double and Kyle Sebach came on in the ninth to strike out the side and record his second save of the season. Also for USIU (4-8-1), Pat Cheek and Geoff Martinez went two-for-four.
San Diego State lost a nonconference home game to New Orleans, 4-2. Catcher Eric Christopherson went three-for-four with three doubles for SDSU (9-3). New Orleans improved to 9-3.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
UC San Diego was extended a bid to the NCAA Division III basketball tournament for the first time in school history. The Tritons (20-6) are seeded third in the West region and will open with second-seeded Nebraska Wesleyan (21-5) in Lincoln at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
The College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn. is seeded first in the West regional of the 40-team Division III tournament.
If UCSD wins, it would advance to the sectionals March 9-10 at the site of the highest seeded team in the West region.
Christian Heritage (28-5) was given the top seed in the District III region of the NAIA tournament and will play Saturday (8 p.m.) against the winner of the Fresno Pacific-Azusa Pacific game at Whittier College.
If Christian Heritage wins, it will play at 8 p.m. Tuesday for the right to advance to Kansas City and the NAIA championship tournament. Last year in their first post-season appearance, the Hawks were eliminated in the first round.
In other Christian Heritage news, senior point guard Mark Kraatz, who averaged 17.9 points and 9.1 assists a game (third in the NAIA), was named player of the year in District III. And senior forward Brad Soucie (25 points, seven rebounds) was selected first team All-District III.
The University of San Diego, which finished third in the West Coast Conference, will play San Francisco in the first round of the WCC men’s basketball tournament Saturday at 8 p.m. at Loyola Marymount.
The Dons (8-19, 4-10) finished tied for sixth with St. Mary’s, but the Gaels (7-19, 4-10) will play second-seeded Pepperdine (16-11, 10-4) in the first round. USD split games with San Francisco winning at home and losing at Memorial Gym.
SOFTBALL
Top-ranked UCLA swept a double-header from host San Diego State, 5-0 and 5-1.
SDSU (0-4) had just four hits in the two games. UCLA (17-3) received two-hit shutouts from Lisa Fernandez and Heather Compton.