LA JOLLA, Calif.—UC San Diego baseball will wrap up its third season of Division I competition with a weekend series at UC Riverside. The Tritons (31-18, 18-9 Big West) will begin their final weekend of the 2023 campaign on Friday at 6:30 p.m. against the Highlanders (11-35, 5-19 Big West). Saturday's game is also scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and the series will conclude on Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
The games will be broadcast on ESPN+ and live statistics will be available via UCSDTritons.com.
 
DETAILS
Games 50-52
UC San Diego (31-18, 18-9) at UC Riverside (11-35, 5-19)
Friday at 6:30 p.m. | Saturday at 6:30 p.m. | Sunday at 1 p.m.
Riverside Sports Complex (2,500) | Riverside, Calif.
All-time series: 9-15 (6-2 in D-I)
Game 1 on ESPN+ | Game 2 on ESPN+ | Game 3 on ESPN+ | Live Stats
 
ABOUT THE TRITONS
Roster | Schedule | Stats
Overall: 31-18
Big West: 18-9
Home: 21-9
Away: 9-6
Neutral: 1-3
Vs. Ranked Opponents: 0-1
Streak: W4
 
ABOUT UC RIVERSIDE
Roster | Schedule | Stats
Overall: 11-35
Big West: 5-19
Home: 6-17
Away: 4-16
Neutral: 1-2
Vs. Ranked Opponents: 0-0
Streak: W1
 
LAST TIME OUT
UC San Diego handed Big West-leader Cal State Fullerton its first sweep of the season, winning all three games against the Titans. The Tritons took the Friday opener, 7-4, and dominated on Saturday, 11-2. UC San Diego completed its sixth sweep of the season with a 4-1 victory on Sunday. For his performance over the weekend, Michael Fuhrman was named the UCU Athlete of the Week.
 
Weekend Top Performers
Patrick Hackworth: 6-for-10 (.600), 4 r, 1 rbi, 2 2b, .800 slg%, 0 so, .615 ob%
Michael Fuhrman: 5-for-13 (.385), 3 r, 5 rbi, 1 3b, 2 hr, 1.000 slg%, .357 ob%
Matt Halbach: 4-for-13 (.308), 4 r, 7 rbi, 2 2b, 1 hr, .692 slg%, .357 ob%
Doyle Kane: 4-for-13 (.308), 3 r, 3 rbi, 1 hr, .538 slg%, .357 ob%
 
Nic Gregson: 0.00 era, 1-0, 1 gs, 6.2 ip, 3 h, 0 r, 1 bb, 6 so
Michael Mitchell: 0.00 era, 1-0, 1 gs, 5.0 ip, 4 h, 0 r, 1 bb, 3 so
Izaak Martinez: 3.00 era, 2 app, 2 sv, 6.0 ip, 5 h, 2 r, 2 bb, 3 so
Ryan Forcucci: 5.06 era, 1-0, 1 gs, 5.1 ip, 3 h, 3 r, 3 bb, 8 so
 
CELEBRATING THE SENIORS
UC San Diego recognized 13 graduating Tritons prior to their home finale against CSUN. Seniors playing in their final weekend as Tritons at UC Riverside will be Aren Alvarez, Cole Dale, Michael Fuhrman, Chris Gilmartin, Luke Glascoe, Emiliano Gonzalez, Ethan Holt, Izaak Martinez, Michael Mitchell, Crew Robinson, Joe Soberon, Jalen Smith and student manager Gabe Montoya.
 
GONZALEZ, MITCHELL NAMED TO ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT TEAM
Seniors Emiliano Gonzalez and Michael Mitchell were named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team. Both will now be eligible for CSC Academic All-America® honors. Gonzalez holds a 3.53 cumulative grade point average as a history major, while Mitchell holds a 3.59 grade point average majoring in international business.
 
FUHRMAN NAMED UCU ATHLETE OF THE WEEK (MAY 15)
Redshirt senior Michael Fuhrman had an outstanding weekend, tallying five RBI and four runs scored to lead the Tritons to a series sweep at Cal State Fullerton—the first of the season for the Titans. Playing most of the weekend as UC San Diego's shortstop, Fuhrman went 5-for-13 with two home runs and a triple and recorded a 1.000 slugging percentage. Fuhrman finished a double shy of the cycle in Friday's 7-4 victory and recorded at least one RBI in each of the three games against the Titans. He currently ranks seventh in the conference in OPS (.983) and in runs scored (39).
 
TRENDING UP
The Tritons have won nine of their last 11 contests, to cap of a record-breaking third season as a Division I program. With their series finale victory, 7-6, at Cal Poly on April 30, the Tritons secured their 25th win of the season. UC San Diego has now surpassed its win totals for each of the first two seasons of Division I competition. The Tritons finished 24-28 (21-19 Big West) in their inaugural D-I season in 2021 and went 24-32 (13-17 Big West) a season ago in 2022.
 
With the 5-4 victory over CSUN in 11 innings on May 5, the Tritons guaranteed themselves a winning season. It is the first season UC San Diego will finish above .500 in the Division I era. The series finale, 4-1, at Cal State Fullerton (May 14) ensured a 30-win season for the Tritons—their first since 2019.
 
DOWN TO THE WIRE
The Tritons have combined to score 123 of their 314 runs in the final three innings (seventh: 48, eighth: 45, ninth: 30)—including outscoring their opponents 45-20 in the eighth. UC San Diego has won in walk-off fashion five times this season, once against Long Beach State (Mar. 17), twice against UC Davis (April 6 & 7), once against San Diego State (April 10) and one against CSUN (May 5). In three of those contests, the Tritons rallied to score four runs in the bottom of the ninth to secure the comeback victory. UC San Diego has also won both of its extra innings games this season, outscoring its opponents 4-1. 
 
UC San Diego has dropped five of its losses by only one run—including Arizona, Washington State, Santa Clara, Hawai'i and USC—and eight losses by three or fewer runs.
 
STACKING UP AGAINST THE BIG WEST
At the Plate
The Tritons currently sit in second place in the Big West with a 18-9 record, trailing Cal State Fullerton (17-7) and just ahead of UC Santa Barbara (16-8). UC San Diego ranks fifth in the Big West in batting average (.276). The Tritons rank fourth in runs batted in (291), runs scored (314) and fifth in total hits (461).
 
Three Triton starters are currently hitting over .300 and Patrick Hackworth (.340) ranks sixth among the top hitters in the Big West. Matt Halbach ranks eighth in the conference in total hits (60) and Doyle Kane ranks 11th (59).
 
Tritons in the Big West Rankings

Brandon Larson	4th, runs batted in	45
	10th, slugging pct	.544
	11th, home runs	9
Patrick Hackworth	2nd, on base pct	.471
	6th, batting avg	.340
Matt Halbach	1st, triples	5
	8th, hits	60
	11th, doubles	14
Noah Sudyka	2nd, triples	4
Doyle Kane	11th, hits	59
Michael Fuhrman	5th, walks	34
	7th, on base + slg	.972
	7th, runs scored	41
	9th, slugging pct	.545
	11th, on base pct	.427
	14th, home runs	8

 
On the Mound
UC San Diego ranks second in earned run average (4.47), second in opponent batting average (.247), third in total strikeouts (455) and fourth in hits allowed (409).
 

Izaak Martinez	3rd, wins	6
	3rd, hits allowed	39
	3rd, runs allowed	21
	5th, opponent avg	.210
	6th, saves	6
	7th, ERA	3.02
	10th, walks allowed	16
	14th, strikeouts	57
Nic Gregson	2nd, walks allowed	11
	6th, wins	5
	11th, SO looking	17
	16th, opponent avg	.257
	17th, strikeouts	54
Ryan Forcucci	2nd, opponent avg	.198
	2nd, hits allowed	36
	4th, runs allowed	23
	10th, strikeouts	63
	11th, walks allowed	20

 
MARTINEZ NAMED UCU ATHLETE OF THE WEEK (May 8)
Lefthander Izaak Martinez shut out CSUN in 6.1 innings out of the bullpen—matching the longest outing of his career—to help UC San Diego take the Friday opener, 5-4, in 11 innings. Martinez entered in the fifth and held the Matadors scoreless with eight strikeouts, while allowing just four hits to earn the victory. He retired the final 12 Matadors in order to close out the contest, throwing a career high 107 pitches. Martinez is currently tied for second in the Big West with six wins this season.
 
LARSON, MARTINEZ SWEEP BIG WEST WEEKLY HONORS (MAY 1)
After sweeping Cal Poly, 3-0, Brandon Larson and Izaak Martinez swept the Big West weekly awards on May 1, earning Field Player and Pitcher of the Week respectively. It was the first time in program history the Tritons have swept the conference's weekly awards since joining the Big West in 2021.
 
Larson collected 10 RBI and five runs scored, knocking a home run in each of the Tritons' four games for the week and slashed .375/1.125/.474. It is the first time a Triton has hit a home run in 3+ consecutive games since Nick Kitzmann (Mar. 6-8, 2020 vs Cal State San Marcos). Martinez secured a save in each of his three appearances, pitching 4.1 innings in three games and allowing one run on two hits with no walks and six strikeouts.
 
LARSON NAMED UCU ATHLETE OF THE WEEK (MAY 1)
Freshman Brandon Larson collected 10 RBI and five runs scored, knocking a home run in each of the Tritons' four games for the week. Larson recorded a 1.125 slugging percentage, hitting the go-ahead home runs in both Saturday (Apr. 29) and Sunday's (Apr. 30) victories at Cal Poly. The Tritons' designated hitter drove in three runs in each of UC San Diego's three games against the Mustangs to secure the series sweep. For the week, Larson went 6-for-16 with three walks and a .474 on-base percentage. Larson's 10 runs batted in moved him into second place in the Big West with 42 RBI on the season. For his performance, he was also named one of Collegiate Baseball's National Players of the Week and Big West Field Player of the Week.
 
MARTINEZ NAMED UCU ATHLETE OF THE WEEK (MAR. 27)
Redshirt junior Izaak Martinez pitched 4.0 shutout innings in two appearances to help UC San Diego sweep CSU Bakersfield in the weekend series. Martinez pitched two shutout innings in the opener on Friday, retiring all six batters faced including three strikeouts. In the Sunday finale, Martinez earned his first save of the season, shutting out the Roadrunners in the final two innings and collecting four strikeouts. Martinez has allowed just two runs in his last seven appearances and five total hits.
 
FURHMAN NAMED BIG WEST FIELD PLAYER OF THE WEEK (MAR. 20)
Senior Michael Fuhrman earned UC San Diego's first-ever Big West Field Player of the Week award, after helping the Tritons go 4-0 in week five. Fuhrman finished 6-for-14 for the week with a .429 batting average, .857 slugging percentage and .471 on-base percentage. He led the team in both runs scored (six) and runs batted in (seven), including two three-run home runs to help UC San Diego sweep Long Beach State for the first time in program history.
 
EYANSON NAMED UCU ATHLETE OF THE WEEK (FEB. 27)
Anthony Eyanson was dominant in his first collegiate start, pitching 5.0 shutout innings against Arizona on Feb. 20. The freshman right-hander allowed just two hits with no walks and six strikeouts, holding the Wildcats to a .118 batting average in the Tritons' final game of the MLB Desert Invitational.
 
EXPERIENCED ROSTER
The Tritons return 25 scholar-athletes from the 2022 roster, including six starters from a team that finished 13-17 in The Big West a season ago. UC San Diego's 2023 roster includes 2022 All-Big West second team honorees Emiliano Gonzalez and Jalen Smith, along with 2021 Big West second team selections Michael Fuhrman and Michael Mitchell (who returns to action after sitting out the 2022 campaign due to injury).
 
FRESH FACES
UC San Diego will add 14 newcomers to its roster for the 2023 season, including nine true freshmen, four junior college/college transfers. The Triton additions include six pitchers and eight position players. 
 
JALEN SMITH NAMED TO BIG WEST PRESEASON TEAM
Senior Jalen Smith was selected to The Big West's first-ever Baseball Preseason Coaches' Team. It was the first preseason honor for Smith, who is also a two-time All-Big West Second Team selection. The infielder was recognized in 2022 for his performance with UC San Diego and in 2021 while a member of the UC Davis program.
 
Smith was exceptional in his first season at UC San Diego, appearing in a team-high 54 games and making 53 starts at third base. The junior transfer finished with a .305 average with seven homeruns and 34 runs batted in.
 
Smith led the Tritons in almost all statistical categories, including OPS (.921), at bats (203), hits (62), doubles (16), triples (3), total bases (105), slugging percentage (.517), walks (30), on-base percentage (.404) and stolen bases (7-10). Smith also ranked among the top hitters in the Big West in doubles (6th), hits (12th), triples (3rd), homeruns (10th), walks (12th), and stolen bases (12th).

TRITONS PICKED 8TH IN PRESEASON POLL
UC San Diego was picked to finish eighth in the Big West Preseason Coaches Poll with 33 total points.Defending Big West champion UC Santa Barbara was picked to finish first in the preseason coaches' poll with 96 points and eight of the 11 first-place votes. UC Irvine was tabbed to finish second (84 points), followed by Long Beach State (79), Cal Poly (71), Cal State Fullerton (68) and Hawai'i (66). LBSU, CSUF and UH all received one of the remaining first-place votes. 
 
Rounding out the group was CSUN (45), UC San Diego (33), UC Davis (28), CSU Bakersfield (23) and UC Riverside (12). 
 
HOME SWEET HOME
After spending opening weekend on the road in Arizona, the Tritons will return to La Jolla to play their next 18 games inside Triton Ballpark. UC San Diego will open its home season with the Tony Gwynn Legacy against UNLV on Feb. 24 and remain home until March 28 when the Tritons face crosstown rival San Diego State for the first of four midweek contests with the Aztecs.

TRITONS SIGN EIGHT TO NLIS
UC San Diego signed eight incoming freshmen who will join the Tritons for the 2023-24 season. The Tritons will welcome Michael Crossland (Seattle, Wash.), Julian Custer (San Diego, Calif.), Nathan Huy (Yorba Linda, Calif.), Devon King (San Diego, Calif.), Steele Murdock (Herriman, Utah), Kerim Orucevic (Park Ridge, Il.), Anthony Potestio (Brentwood, Calif.) and Landon Runyan (Huntington Beach, Calif.) for the 2024 season.
 
The 2023 signing class includes four pitchers, two outfielders, one infielder and one utility player. Five scholar-athletes join the Tritons from California, while Illinois, Washington and Utah were also represented. Four of the eight signees ranked among the top-11 or above for their position in their state by Prep Baseball Report (PBR), including Crossland, Huy, Murdock and Orucevic.
 
ON THE MOVE
After 20 seasons playing as an NCAA Division II team, the entire athletics program is in its third year of a four-year transition to NCAA Division I, culminating in full DI status as a member of the Big West Conference for the 2024-25 academic year. At that time, all sports will be eligible for conference and NCAA postseason play.

A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE
While at the Division II level, UC San Diego baseball experienced great success for 20 years as a member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The Tritons amassed six regular season titles in arguably the toughest conference nationally in the NCAA Division II. UC San Diego made five appearances in the NCAA D-II World Series, and most recently appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 2019. 
 
During his nine seasons coaching the Tritons at Division II, Eric Newman was named ABCA/Diamond West Region Coach of the Year for three consecutive seasons (2017-2019) and also twice recognized as CCAA Coach of the Year (2012, 2019).

WHY THE TRITONS
The Triton is described as the offspring of Poseidon and Amphitrite, a demigod of the sea with a lower part of the body like that of a fish. It is known as a mighty and fierce sea warrior. Given UC San Diego's close proximity to the Pacific Ocean and its connections with the world-famous Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Triton became our mascot in 1964.

EXCELLING IN THE CLASSROOM
UC San Diego baseball had seven current scholar-athletes named to the 2022 Big West Spring Academic All-Conference Team. Those Tritons earning academic recognition were Cole Dale, Michael Fuhrman, Brock Kleszcz, Izaak Martinez, Luke Saunders, Joe Soberon and Noah Sudyka. 
 
In order to qualify for the Academic All-Conference Team, scholar-athletes had to carry a minimum 3.00 cumulative institutional grade point average (GPA), must have completed one full academic year at the member institution prior to the season for which the award is being received, and must have competed in at least 50 percent of the institution's contests in the student-athlete's respective sport.

GET SOCIAL WITH UC SAN DIEGO BASEBALL
Keep up with the Tritons all season long on social media through Twitter and Instagram. The team's handle is @ucsdbsb.
 
FOR THE YOUNGER CROWD
Got some young Triton fans in your family? If they are eighth grade or under, check out the Junior Triton Club. Membership includes a free t-shirt, admission to over 100 UC San Diego home athletic events, and much more!

GEAR
For the latest Triton apparel and accessories, click here.
 
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.