MESA, Ariz.—UC San Diego baseball dropped a tough, 7-0, decision to No. 2 Tennessee on Sunday afternoon at Sloan Park. On day three of the MLB Desert Invitational, the Tritons (1-2) had their first-ever meeting with the Volunteers (1-2).
 
The Tritons struggled offensively, collecting six hits in the contest and stranding eight base runners. Doyle Kane finished 2-for-4 and the only Triton who turned in a multi-hit performance on the day. Starter Michael Mitchell turned in a stellar performance on the mound in his first appearance since 2021, pitching 3.0 scoreless innings and allowing just two hits with four strikeouts.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tritons held the Vols offense in check early, using the dominant pitching of Mitchell and solid defense that included two double-plays to keep things scoreless through three innings.
 
UC San Diego got its first big opportunity in the top of the fourth, putting runners on second and third with two outs after back-to-back base hits from Matt Halbach and Kane. However, a ground-out to first base ended the inning without a run.
 
Tennessee got on the board in the bottom of the inning, scoring on an RBI single and a fielder's choice to take the lead, 2-0. The Vols added another run in the bottom of the sixth with a leadoff homer to make it 3-0, but Izaak Martinez settled in to retire the next three batters in order. 
 
The Tritons threatened again in the top of the seventh, putting runners on the corners with two outs but again came up empty after another fielder's choice ended the inning.
 
The Vols did most of their damage in the bottom of the seventh, hanging four more runs on the board to make it 7-0. 
 
UC San Diego had one final opportunity to rally in the top of the eighth, loading the bases with one out. Luke Glascoe knocked a ground-rule double over the center field wall and Nick Costello and Michael Fuhrman drew back-to-back walks to juice the bases. However, back-to-back strikeouts ended the threat and effectively seal the victory for Tennessee.  

QUOTABLE
"Was great to have Michael Mitchell back out there again and he competed great for us," said UC San Diego head coach Eric Newman. "After that we had a few miscues where we gave some momentum to them here and there and they cashed them in."

"Tennessee is a great team and I was really proud of how our guys handled themselves in that moment. It didn't go our way today but we will learn for these types of games and be better for it."

TRITON TIDBITS

• Starter Michael Mitchell pitched 3.0 innings in his first appearance since 2021—after sitting out 2022 due to injury—giving up two hits, no runs, one walk and four strikeouts.
• Freshman Donovan Chriss was credited with the loss, allowing two runs—one earned—on two hits in the fourth with one strikeout.
• Doyle Kane turned in the only multi-hit performance and is 6-for-13 so far on the weekend.
• At No. 2 nationally, Tennessee was the highest ranked opponent the Tritons have face in the Division I era. UC San Diego fell to 0-1 in the all-time series with the Vols.

UP NEXT
The Tritons will wrap up the 2023 MLB Desert Invitational on Monday against Arizona. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m. PT at Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz. The game will be streamed on mlb.com 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 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 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.