NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — UC San Diego baseball secured the series sweep over CSUN with a commanding 12-4 victory on Sunday at Hiegert Field. The Tritons (7-10, 3-0 Big West) were powered by a four-run fourth inning and a consistent offensive performance, tallying 13 hits and 11 RBI against the Matadors (10-9, 2-4 Big West).
 
J.C. Allen recorded three hits and drove in four runs, including a double, while Alex Leopard contributed two hits, including a home run, and added two RBI. Michael Crossland provided two hits and two RBI, and Anthony Potestio scored three runs and drew a walk.
 
Austin Bowker (1-1) pitched 5.0 innings, allowing three earned runs on three hits while striking out three. Jake Villar contributed 1.1 innings of scoreless relief, giving up only one hit and striking out one without issuing any walks. Nathan Ries pitched 1.0 inning, allowing one run on two hits, while Devon King closed out the game with 1.2 innings of scoreless pitching, striking out two and allowing just one hit. The pitching staff effectively managed base runners, yielding only four runs in total.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
UC San Diego opened scoring in the first inning with Allen doubling to left center, bringing home Crossland. CSUN responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning, taking a 2-1 lead.
 
In the third inning, Leopard homered to right field, scoring Gabe Camacho and giving the Tritons a 3-2 advantage through three innings.
 
The fourth inning saw the Tritons extend their lead. Nick Costello scored on a sacrifice fly by Crossland. A dropped fly by the Matadors' first baseman allowed Drake Bicknell to score, followed by Allen's single to center field, which brought in two more runs, making it 7-2.
 
CSUN managed to add a run in the fifth inning with a solo home run, but the Tritons maintained a 7-3 lead.
 
Camacho's sacrifice fly in the sixth inning added another run for the Tritons, making it 8-3. UC San Diego's lead grew in the seventh inning when Leopard scored on a sacrifice bunt by Trevian Martinez, extending the lead to 9-3.
 
In the eighth inning, Allen's single up the middle drove in another run for the Tritons. CSUN scored once in their half, but the Tritons held a 10-4 lead.
 
The Tritons added two more runs in the ninth inning, with Costello scoring on a single by Delshaun Lanier, and Martinez crossing the plate on a single by Crossland, sealing the win with a final score of 12-4.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• J.C. Allen finished the series 10-for-17 (.588) with 10 RBI, three runs scored, four doubles, two home runs and a 1.176 slugging percentage.
• The Tritons used four pitchers in the contest, including Austin Bowker, Jake Villar, Nathan Ries and Devon King.
• It was the first series sweep of the season for the Tritons who are now 3-0 in Big West play. 
• UC San Diego is now 12-7 in the all-time series with CSUN.

 
UP NEXT
UC San Diego will return to Triton Ballpark after 10 consecutive games on the road, playing host to UC Riverside in its Big West home opener beginning Friday at 6 p.m. The games 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.