IRVINE, Calif. – UC San Diego baseball was shut out 4-0 by UC Irvine in game one of their series at Anteater Park. While the Tritons were able to keep the Anteaters off the board for the first half of the game, the bats were unable to provide the offensive support. The Tritons fell to 7-14 overall and 4-5 in conference action while the Anteaters improved to 17-9 and 11-2 in conference action.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Jackson Kritsch hit a one-out triple in the first but was stranded at third to close out the inning. The triple was the only hit recorded between both teams through the first three innings. The Anteaters would get their first hit in the fourth with a two-out double, but the Tritons got out of the inning by catching a pop fly from the following batter.
The Anteaters got on the board in the sixth inning after three consecutive hits led to a run. With runners on first and third and no outs, the Tritons turned a double play, plating a UC Irvine run. A squeeze play in the bottom of the seventh added another run for the Anteaters.
Cameron Leonard pitched well through 6.2 innings. The senior recorded four strikeouts, no walks and gave up three earned runs.
Down 3-0 in the eighth, the Tritons looked to build momentum after
Brock Kleszcz hit a lead off double and advanced to third on the following play. Kritsch struck out and
Anthony Lucchetti popped the ball out to end the top of the inning.
UC Irvine picked up an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth and retired the final three Triton batters to close out the ninth inning.
FROM THE COACH
"
Cameron Leonard really threw the ball well," stated Head Coach
Eric Newman. "Liked his competitiveness out there. We had some chances against a very good pitcher on the other side but weren't able to cash them in."
TRITON TIBITS
- Everett Lau made his first start since February 28th and made his first start at designated hitter.
- Kritsch hit his second triple of the year, making him the only Triton with multiple triples.
- The Triton pitching staff combined for five strikeouts compared to the Anteater's 12.
- Both teams left six batters on base.
UP NEXT
The Tritons will play a double header against the Anteaters tomorrow, April 10, with game one slated to start at 12:00 pm. Both games can be viewed through BigWest.TV.
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.
