LA JOLLA, Calif. — With his team trailing 8-7 to California Baptist in the bottom of the ninth and the bases loaded, UC San Diego head coach Eric Newman called on Delshaun Lanier to pinch hit. The redshirt sophomore stepped up and delivered for the Tritons, putting a hard-hit ball into play that forced an error from the Lancer defense and brought in the tying and winning runs.
 
The Tritons moved to 3-3 on the season with the 9-8 victory over California Baptist, who fell to 4-3. Saturday night's contest was hosted by UC San Diego at Triton Ballpark on the second day of the Tony Gwynn Legacy. The Tritons are now 2-0 in the event after beating Pepperdine 18-1 on Friday night.

Anthony Potestio led the Tritons with three hits, two RBIs and a run scored. Michael Crossland also made a significant impact with a double, driving in two runs and scoring twice himself, while also contributing a hit by pitch. Gabe Camacho provided offensive support with two hits, a walk and a run scored from the first base position. Additionally, Emiliano Gonzalez stood out with a double and two RBIs, alongside two walks and a stolen base.
 
The contest quickly turned into a bullpen game as neither starting pitcher made it to the end of the second inning. The two teams would eventually combine to use 11 pitchers. UC San Diego's Sam Hasegawa earned the win after taking the mound for the final four innings, giving up five hits and one earned run while striking out five.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tritons opened the game with a strong performance in the first inning, posting three runs on four hits. Potestio and Noah Lazuka both singled through the right side, setting the stage for a Crossland double to right field, which brought in two runs. Gonzalez followed with a double of his own, adding another RBI to extend the early lead.
 
California Baptist responded in the second inning with a six-run rally, but the Tritons began to respond in the bottom of the inning. Patrick Hackworth walked and subsequently advanced on a wild pitch to set up an RBI single from Potestio, closing the gap slightly to 6-4.
 
The Tritons continued to chip away at the lead, adding a run in both the sixth and seventh innings. J.C. Allen's double in the sixth led to a crucial RBI single by Potestio. Later, in the seventh inning, Hackworth doubled to right center, driving in Gonzalez and bringing the score to 8-6 in favor of California Baptist.
 
In the ninth inning, Crossland was hit by a pitch and quickly advanced to third on Camacho's single. Gonzalez's sacrifice fly brought Crossland home, followed by two walks to load the bases. Lanier hit the ball to the shortstop who threw out Hackworth at second, with the shortstop then attempting to turn the double play at first. That throw was wide, allowing Allen and Camacho to come around to score on the walk off.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• The Tritons are now 2-1 at home this season.
• Saturday's game was the 61st meeting between the two teams, but it was the first encounter in both schools' Division I era. California Baptist leads the all-time series 31-30.
• The Tritons have scored a combined 38 runs in their three wins this season.

UP NEXT
The Tritons welcome undefeated Utah to Triton Ballpark on Sunday at 5 p.m. for the final day of the Tony Gwynn Legacy. Tickets can be purchased through Triton Box Office. The game will also air on ESPN+ and KSDT radio, with live stats on 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 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 84 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.