NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – UC San Diego shortstop Anthony Potestio homered twice and the Tritons scored three times in the eighth to rally past CSUN, 6-4, in a Big West contest Saturday afternoon at Hiegert Field. The win gives the Tritons (6-10 overall, 2-0 Big West) the series over the Matadors. UC San Diego will look to complete the three-game sweep on Sunday afternoon.
 
With the loss, CSUN is 10-8 overall and 2-3 in conference action.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tritons got on the board in the first when Potestio walked and Michael Crossland doubled him home. CSUN leveled the score with a solo homer in the bottom of the second. In the top of the third, Potestio led off the frame with a solo homer to left, giving UC San Diego a 2-1 advantage. The Matadors evened things up once again with a run in the sixth, setting the stage for late inning heroics for the visitors.
 
With one out in the eighth, Potestio ripped his second homer of the night – another solo shot – to right field, giving UC San Diego a 3-2 lead. One out later, Gabe Camacho recorded an infield hit and J.C. Allen smacked a two-run homer to left, making the score 5-2 in favor of the Tritons. In the ninth, catcher Trevian Martinez tripled and scored on a wild pitch to give UC San Diego a 6-2 lead.
 
The Matadors scratched back two runs in the bottom of the ninth. With two outs and nobody on, a single and a homer suddenly made the score 6-4. But Connor Etnire closed the door to seal the win. He pitched the final three innings, striking out five with no walks to improve his record to 3-0.
 
Nic Gregson started on the mound for the Tritons. He scattered nine runs and two hits over six innings, striking out four. The Tritons pitching staff did not issue a walk all afternoon.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• Potestio's two home runs were his first of the season. He now has nine has a Triton.
• J.C. Allen is tied for second on the team with four long balls.
• The ninth inning triple from Trevian Martinez was UC San Diego's first three-bagger in 2026.
• Etnire is the first Triton pitcher to get to three wins this season.

UP NEXT
UC San Diego and CSUN close out the series Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. in Northridge. The game can be seen on ESPN+ with a link to 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 has begun a new era 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 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 39 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 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in NCAA Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.