NORTHRIDGE, Calif.—UC San Diego baseball held CSUN hitless through 8.1 innings in a pitcher's duel on Thursday to open the weekend series, before ultimately falling, 3-0, in the 10th inning at Matador Field.
 
The trio of Austin Smith, Aren Alvarez and Izaak Martinez combined to face the minimum into the bottom of the ninth. Noah Sudyka led the way at the plate for the Tritons (23-31, 12-16 Big West), finishing 2-for-3, while Blake FitzGerald and Matt Halbach went 2-for-5.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams were retired in order through the first three innings, before the Tritons saw their first opportunity in the top of the fourth. UC San Diego loaded the bases with one out but a double-play ground-out ended the threat without a run.
 
The Matadors (31-21, 16-12 Big West) got their leadoff man aboard in the bottom of the fourth on a fielding error, but a double-play cleared the bases and kept the no-hitter intact. The Tritons would then retire the next 13 batters in order. 
 
UC San Diego loaded the bases again in the fifth—this time with two outs—but a fielder's choice kept the Tritons off the board once again.
 
The Tritons continued to apply pressure on the base paths, advancing runners into scoring position in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings. In the top of the ninth, UC San Diego loaded the bases once again with one out, but a strikeout and a foul-out ended the rally. 
 
In the bottom of the ninth, a one-out double by CSUN broke up the no-hitter for the Tritons. Two fly-outs to center field ended the inning and sent the game to extras.
 
UC San Diego was retired in order for the first time since the third inning, giving CSUN the momentum heading into the bottom of the tenth. With one out, back-to-back singles put runners on base for a three-run homer to secure the walk-off victory for the Matadors.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• Starting pitcher Austin Smith went 2.0 innings, retiring all six batters faced including two strikeouts.
• Izaak Martinez (3-2) was credited with the loss, working 5.1 innings in relief and allowing three runs on four hits with one walk and one strikeout.
• Blake FitzGerald, Matt Halbach and Noah Sudyka all turned in multi-hit performances.
• The Tritons stranded 14 runners on base, compared to two for the Matadors.
• With the loss, UC San Diego falls to 3-2 in the all-time series with CSUN and 0-1 in the weekend series.

 
UP NEXT
UC San Diego will face off with the Matadors in game two of the weekend series on Friday at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and live statistics will be available via UCSDTritons.com.
 
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 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.