LA JOLLA, Calif.— UC San Diego baseball dropped a 5-2 decision to Western Michigan on Sunday afternoon at Triton Ballpark to wrap up the Tony Gwynn Legacy series. The Tritons (2-4) managed four hits, including a home run, but were unable to overcome a three-run fifth inning for the Broncos (2-4). UC San Diego left 10 runners on base in the contest.
 
Gabe Camacho was responsible for both of UC San Diego's runs with a home run, reaching base three times with a walk and a hit-by-pitch. Anthony Potestio added a double and drew a walk in his plate appearances, while Nick Costello and Addison Klepsch also recorded base hits in the contest. 
 
Austin Bowker started his second game of the season, pitching 2 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and one unearned run, while striking out two batters. Nathan Ries (0-1), despite recording a loss, managed to tally seven strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings of work. Devon King closed out the game, pitching two innings without allowing a hit or a walk, striking out three batters and maintaining a clean sheet on the mound.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
UC San Diego and WMU each remained scoreless through the first two innings. The Broncos took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning, scoring on a Triton throwing error. UC San Diego responded in the bottom half as Camacho launched a two-run homer to right field, bringing home Potestio to give the Tritons a 2-1 lead after three innings.
 
Western Michigan tied things up in the fourth inning with a solo home run to knot the game, 2-2. Ries struck out the side, including back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning. 
 
The Broncos did most of their damage in the fifth inning, scoring three runs on four hits and one error to take a 5-2 lead. After the rally, Ries responded to strike out the side for a 1-2-3 inning in the sixth.
 
UC San Diego got their best chances in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings, loading the bases twice with just one out. However, a line-out and a ground-out in the sixth and a fielder's choice and a fly-out in the seventh, held the Tritons off the board both times. UC San Diego stranded two runners in the eighth and one in the ninth, with WMU holding on for the 5-2 victory.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• Gabe Camacho knocked his third home run of the season.
• Nathan Ries finished one strikeout shy of his career high.
• The Tritons used three pitchers, including Austin Bowker, Nathan Ries and Devon King.
• UC San Diego is now 0-1 in the all-time series with Western Michigan. 

 
UP NEXT
The Tritons will face the University of San Diego on Tuesday in a midweek matchup, before beginning a stretch of 10 games on the road. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and live statistics will be available via UCSDTritons.com.
 
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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 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions.