LA JOLLA, Calif. – Despite a late push in the second half of the game, UC San Diego baseball fell to Long Beach State 9-5 Thursday evening at Triton Ballpark. The Dirtbags recorded 19 hits against the Tritons compared to the Tritons eight. The Tritons fall to 6-11 and 3-2 in Big West play while Long Beach improves to 4-5 on the season and in conference action.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tritons gave up seven hits in the first three innings, resulting in three runs for the Dirtbags.
 
Ryan McNally was able to make it all the way to third thanks to an error on the right fielder, but the Tritons were not able to bring him to home plate.
 
A solo homer from the Dirtbags extended the lead to 4-0 in the top of the fifth.
 
Jackson Kritsch broke up the shut out with a two-out solo homerun to left field in the bottom of the sixth.
 
Cameron Leonard lasted a career high seven innings before ending his evening. He gave up 12 hits, five runs and struck out five.
 
Down 5-2 heading into the eighth, the Beach hit back-to-back-back doubles to drive in a pair of runners. They scored a third run thanks to a throwing error on Gredan Velasquez to go up 8-2.
 
McNally hit a single down the right side to score Brock Kleszcz and cut the deficit to 8-3. Everett Lau came in the game to pinch hit, took the first pitch and hit a no doubter for a two-run home run.

One pitch, no doubter from Lau!https://t.co/APuBxuvSIm pic.twitter.com/npr2oVzjqR

— UC San Diego Baseball (@UCSDbsb) April 2, 2021

Long Beach hit another solo home run at the top of the ninth and the Tritons were unable to make up the deficit in the final inning.
 
FROM THE COACH
"I thought Long Beach came out and out-played us," stated Head Coach Eric Newman. "I thought they were better with two strikes; they were tougher in those moments than our guys were. Their pitcher was attacking us better than our guys were. It's a tough way to come about because I didn't feel like we had the intensity and determination that the guys in the other dugout had. And that's unfortunate. That's something we can control and something as a coach I've got to do a better job we have that. We addressed that and we're gonna be better at that going forward. We've got to come out tomorrow and play with a little more fire and a little more determination than we did today."
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• Kritsch's homerun was his first in a Triton uniform. With his shift to first base in the top of the ninth, he has now seen time in five different positions for the Tritons.
• Paul Gozzo threw three baserunners out as they tried to steal second.
• The 19 hits are the most the Tritons have allowed all season.

UP NEXT
The Tritons will host a double-header against Long Beach on Friday, April 2 at Triton Ballpark with the first game scheduled to start at 2:00 pm. Both games will be broadcast live on ESPN3.

About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.
 
Return To Sport…Safely
In order for UC San Diego scholar-athletes to be permitted to return to training and competition safely and within federal, state, local, and university guidelines, the athletic department implemented a number of measures designed to complement and enhance the university's highly-successful Return To Learn program. Notable actions include being physically distanced when practical, including during out-of-season training sessions; wearing masks, except when undergoing physically strenuous exercise; and maintaining proper hygiene. Athletes, coaches, and staff are testing at a higher frequency than the campus population, teams adhere to CDC, NCAA, and Big West Conference guidelines, and department officials participate in regular meetings with conference and university-affiliated physicians and the UC San Diego emergency operations staff.