LA JOLLA, Calif.—UC San Diego baseball fell to Long Beach State, 10-0, on Sunday afternoon in Triton Ballpark. The Tritons (13-9, 5-4 Big West) moved to 8-4 in the all-time series with the Dirtbags (8-15, 2-7 Big West) but took the series 2-1.
 
Steele Murdock (0-2) made his first collegiate start in the contest, pitching 3.0 innings and giving up two runs—one earned—while walking one and striking out four. Six different Tritons recorded a hit in the contest and UC San Diego left nine runners stranded in the shutout.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Long Beach State got the scoring started early, putting up one run in the first after three consecutive two-out singles loaded the bases. Catcher's interference forced in the first run of the game for the Dirtbags.
 
UC San Diego loaded the bases in the bottom of the first, but a double play ended the inning without a run. The Tritons put runners on the corners in the bottom of the second but were unable to cash in once again.
 
LBSU added another run in the top of the third to make it 2-0 and the score held into the top of the seventh. The Dirtbags did most of their damage in top of the inning, scoring six runs on six hits and one error to lead, 8-0.
 
Long Beach State tacked on two more runs in the top of the ninth to make it a 10-0 deficit for the Tritons. UC San Diego rallied one last time in the bottom of the inning, advancing a runner to second with one out. However, back-to-back strikeouts ended the contest and preserved the shutout for the visitors.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• UC San Diego left nine runners stranded in the contest.
• It was the first time the Tritons were shutout this season.
• Of the Dirtbags' 10 runs, only one was earned in the contest with the Tritons committing four errors.
• Steele Murdock made his first collegiate start on the mound for the Tritons.
• The Tritons are now 8-4 in the all-time series with Long Beach State.

UP NEXT
The Tritons will hit the road for a nine-game stretch, facing California Baptist on Tuesday before a four-game series at Santa Clara beginning Thursday. The games 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 in NCAA Division I. The 24-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.