LA JOLLA, Calif. – Four Tritons pounded out multi-hit games and UC San Diego's pitching staff didn't allow an earned run as the Tritons rolled to a 15-1 victory over visiting UNLV on a blustery Friday morning at Triton Ballpark. The Tritons (2-3) registered a season-high 15 runs and 15 hits on the way to victory in the opening game of the 2023 Tony Gwynn Legacy.
UNLV fell to 3-2 with the loss.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tritons got on the board in their first trip to the plate. With one out and nobody on,
Jalen Smith ripped a homer to left field – his first of the season – to give UC San Diego a 1-0 lead. In the home half of the second, UNLV starter Noah Beal got two quick outs before
Noah Sudyka reached on an infield hit to third base. After
Luke Glascoe was hit by a pitch,
Patrick Hackworth smacked a three-run home run down the right field line, making the score 4-0.
In the home third,
Matt Halbach singled and
Doyle Kane reached on an error. Michael Furhman laced a triple to left, plating a pair of runs. Catcher
Emiliano Gonzalez promptly doubled to center, scoring Fuhrman. Shortstop
Noah Sudyka added a sac fly to put the Tritons on top, 8-0.
Meanwhile, Tritons' starter
Zack Ernisse was impressive on the mound. After wiggling out of a jam in the top of the first, he settled in for three more efficient innings. Overall, Ernisse scattered three hits and struck out seven over four scoreless innings of work.
The Triton bullpen was great, surrendering just one unearned run over the final five frames. The last UNLV came hit in fifth.
Nic Gregson (1-0) threw two scoreless innings of relief to pick up the win.
QUOTABLE
"Triton Ballpark is a good spot for us, we like being at home. It was fun to come out here on our home field and have a great day of baseball," said UC San Diego head coach
Eric Newman. "The offense was great, but I thought Zack [Ernisse] actually set the tone when he pitched out of that jam in the first, with runners on second and third and getting a big strikeout."
HIGHLIGHTS
TRITON TIDBITS
- UC San Diego's 15-run outburst marked the most runs the Tritons have scored in a game since a 15-5 win over UC Davis on May 13, 2022.
- Redshirt sophomore righty Nic Gregson earned his first career victory.
- Friday marked the first meeting between UNLV and UC San Diego in Division I.
- The Tritons earned their first win in the Tony Gwynn Legacy since a 9-3 win at San Diego State in 2021.
UP NEXT
UC San Diego continues play in the Tony Gwynn Legacy on Sunday, when the Tritons host Washington State. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m. PT and the contest can be seen live on ESPN+ with Ted Mendenhall calling the action. Tickets can be purchased through the
Triton Box Office.
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 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 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 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in Divisions I and II.
