LA JOLLA, Calif. -- The Cal Poly Pomona baseball team rallied from a three-run deficit in the top of the eighth inning to tie the ballgame, but surrendered the go-ahead (and eventual game-winning) run in the bottom of the eighth in a 7-6 loss to No. 2-ranked UC San Diego Saturday at Triton Ballpark in La Jolla.

The Broncos fall to 2-4 overall and 0-2 in the CCAA, while the Tritons continue its hot streak to start the year, rising to an unblemished 7-0 (2-0 CCAA).

Brennan McKenzie put the Broncos on top just four batters into the contest, tripling home Ryon Knowles for the 1-0 lead before UCSD could come to bat.  It would stay that way until the hosts put four runs up on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth, a three-run home run and a RBI single off of CPP starter Cameron Mabee.

It didn't take long for the Broncos to answer, coming to within a run at 4-3 after a two-run double by Nick Peifer that scored Knowles and Matt Manskar.  Troy Bethell came on in relief of Mabee to start the fifth, but loaded the bases, then gave up a walk to push a run in and make it 5-3 in favor of UCSD.  Steven Ordorica took over on the mound and stopped the bleeding, striking out the first two batters he saw to end the inning and leave the bases jammed.

The Tritons brought another run home in the seventh for a 6-3 lead, but the Broncos battled back to knot the game at 6-6 in the top of the eighth.  McKenzie doubled home Cesar Lopez, Christian Moya singled home McKenzie, then Dante Palacio doubled home Moya.  CPP continued to threaten for more with runners on the corners and two outs, but UCSD got John Pappas to pop up to end the frame.

With a tie game in the bottom of the eighth, Eric Romo came on to replace Steven Orozco, striking out the first batter he saw.  However, the Tritons got back-to-back singles, followed by a walk to load the bases before Anthony Lucchetti singled home the go-ahead run and kept the bases loaded.  Romo was able to induce the inning-ending double play, but not before the damage was done.

In the top of the ninth, UCSD's Matt Mitchell, who gave up two hits and one of the runs in the eighth, settled down and retired Knowles, Peifer and Lopez in order to give the Tritons their second one-run victory in as many days.

McKenzie finished the afternoon going 2 for 4 at the plate with a double, triple and two RBI.  Peifer was 2 for 5 with a double and two RBI as well.

The four-game series between CPP and UCSD will wrap up Sunday in Pomona with a doubleheader scheduled for a 12:00 pm start at Scolinos Field.