LA JOLLA, Calif. – UC San Diego scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the first and got 5.1 innings of shutout relief from the bullpen, but the Tritons fell by a 3-2 score to visiting Long Beach State in the series finale Saturday afternoon at Triton Ballpark.
 
With Saturday's win, the Dirtbags (6-6 overall, 6-6 Big West) earned a series victory, taking three of four from UC San Diego (7-13, 4-4).
 
Long Beach State starter Luis Ramirez struck out eight over 6.1 innings to earn the victory. UC San Diego freshman Nic Gregson (0-3) was saddled with the loss after surrendering three runs over 3.2 innings.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
UC San Diego got on the board in the home half of the first when shortstop Ryan McNally led off with a single and right fielder Tate Soderstrom doubled to put a pair in scoring position. Back-to-back RBI groundouts plated those Tritons to give UC San Diego a 2-0 lead after one.
 
Long Beach State picked up a run in the top of the second and took the lead in the third thanks to a two-run homer from Jonathan Long.
 
Leading 3-2, the Dirtbags had the bases loaded in the top of the sixth when Mark Quinby got a big swinging strikeout to strand the sacks full.
 

Quinby with a big K, stranding 3!

Tritons coming to bat down a run in the bottom of the sixth.

We're on @BigWestSports TV!#GoTritons pic.twitter.com/Fuf263LOc1

— UC San Diego Baseball (@UCSDbsb) April 3, 2021

The Dirtbags again loaded the bases in the top of the eighth looking to add to their lead. Tritons' reliever Luke Mattson struck out the side to get of the jam and keep the deficit at just one run.
 
The Tritons bullpen did its part, but the offense was unable to break through as Long Beach State held on for the win.

QUOTABLE


TRITON TIDBITS

• UC San Diego catcher Paul Gozzo threw out another baserunner attempting to steal on Saturday, and he's now thrown out 10 of 13 would-be base stealers this season.
• Quinby struck out a career-high four batters over 1.2 innings of relief.
• As a unit, the bullpen struck out 12 batters including Quinby's four and four from Izaak Martinez.

 
UP NEXT
The Tritons hit the road for a four-game Big West Conference series next weekend at first place UC Irvine. Action gets underway from Anteater Ballpark at 3 p.m. on Friday, April 9.

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 began a new era in 2020 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 III and II 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 earned 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.

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.