NORTHRIDGE, Calif.—UC San Diego baseball defeated CSUN, 11-5, in 10 innings on Friday evening at Matador Field. The Tritons (27-20, 14-11 Big West) scored sixth runs in the top of the tenth to end a nine-game skid and take the series opener over the Matadors (28-18, 14-8 Big West).
 
Emiliano Gonzalez finished 2-for-5 with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored, while Doyle Kane went 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Anthony Potestio and Noah Sudyka each had a pair of hits, a pair of RBI and one run apiece.
 
Landon Marchetti (2-2) earned the win out of the bullpen, pitching the final 2.0 innings without allowing a hit or a run. Starter Anthony Eyanson pitched 6.0 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts in the no-decision.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
UC San Diego jumped out to an early lead after a three-run homer by Gonzalez in the top of the first inning. CSUN responded in the bottom of the inning, scoring one run on two hits and one error to make it 3-1.
 
The Matadors took the lead in the third, scoring three runs on a bases-loaded triple to pull in front, 4-3. 
 
The Tritons were quick to answer, scoring two runs the following inning to retake the lead. Sudyka brought in the first run of the fourth with a double to center field and Costello hit a ground-out down the first base line to score a runner from third and make it 5-4, Tritons.
 
CSUN advanced runners into scoring position in the fourth and the fifth, but the Tritons kept the Matadors off the board both times. A 1-2-3 inning for Eyanson in the sixth maintained the one-run lead for UC San Diego.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, CSUN put runners on the corners with no outs. A sac-bunt brought in the tying run for the Matadors before Spencer Seid got three straight strikeouts to end the inning and keep the game knotted, 5-5.
 
The Tritons threatened to retake the lead in the eighth with two runners in scoring position with two outs, however they were unable to cash in. 
 
CSUN got an opportunity of its own in the bottom of the ninth with two on and two outs. A hard ground ball to first was picked up by Potestio at second base who threw home to prevent the winning run from scoring and send the game to extra innings.
 
UC San Diego wasted no time in extras, exploding for six runs on five hits to break open the tie in the tenth frame. Kane brought in Gonzalez for the go-ahead run with a double to the wall in left field. Cooper Thacker and Sudyka followed with RBI singles before the Tritons loaded the bases with two outs. Potestio brought in two more runs with a single through the right side and Gonzalez—who led off the inning—capped the scoring with an RBI single of his own through the right side.
 
Apart from a one-out walk, the Tritons kept CSUN quiet in the bottom of the inning. Marchetti sealed the victory with an eight-pitch strikeout to end the contest, 11-5.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• For the second consecutive game, a Triton recorded a season-high four RBI. Gonzalez joined Sudyka who reached the mark on Tuesday at USD (May 7).
• It was the second consecutive game in extra innings for UC San Diego.
  • The Tritons are now 2-6 in extra-inning games this season.
• UC San Diego moved 6-5 in the all-time series with CSUN and 1-0 in the weekend series. 

UP NEXT
UC San Diego will continue the weekend series at CSUN on Saturday at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with live statistics 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.