LA JOLLA, Calif. — UC San Diego baseball secured the series opener, 10-9, over Hawai'i on Thursday night in Triton Ballpark. The Tritons' (13-13, 9-1 Big West) overcame a four-run deficit in a back-and-forth affair with the Rainbow Warriors (15-12, 5-8 Big West). UC San Diego recorded 16 hits, including seven doubles. Five Tritons recorded multi-hit games, led by J.C. Allen, Alex Leopard and Anthony Potestio with three hits apiece. 
 
Alex Leopard recorded three hits and one RBI in his six plate appearances, while Delshaun Lanier contributed two hits, including a double, and drove in two runs. J.C. Allen tallied three hits, including a double, and drove in two runs, complementing his performance with two walks. Anthony Potestio delivered three hits, two of which were doubles, while also collecting two RBI and scoring once.
 
Steele Murdock pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and five runs—three earned—while striking out five batters and walking three. Devon King (2-0) pitched 1 1/3 innings in relief and allowed three hits and three unearned runs, but he struck out two batters. Julian Cazares closed the game with a strong performance, pitching a perfect inning with one strikeout, securing his second save in as many games.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Hawaii took an early lead with three runs in the third inning, scoring on a groundout, followed by a two-RBI double. The Tritons responded with Gabe Camacho doubling and scoring on an RBI single by Leopard, bringing the score to 3-1 in favor of the Rainbow Warriors.
 
In the top of the sixth, Hawai'i added to its lead, scoring two runs on one hit and one error to lead 5-1. UC San Diego responded with a pivotal bottom of the sixth inning, scoring six runs on five hits to take the lead, 7-5. Trevian Martinez's two-RBI single tied the game, and Lanier followed with a two-RBI single to give the Tritons the lead. Potestio capped the inning with a two-RBI double, extending the advantage to 7-5. 
 
In the eighth inning, Hawai'i scored three unearned runs, tying the game at 9-9. UC San Diego reclaimed the lead as Michael Crossland doubled to score Addison Klepsch, and Allen's two-RBI double brought in two more runs, ending the inning with a 10-9 lead for the Tritons.
 
Cazares closed out the game for UC San Diego, retiring the Rainbow Warriors in order in the ninth inning to secure a 10-9 victory.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• UC San Diego knocked seven doubles—matching the program's Division I single game record—and five Tritons turned in multi-hit games.
• The Tritons left 16 runners on base, compared to 11 for Hawai'i.
• Julian Cazares secured his second save in consecutive games.
• UC San Diego is now 6-11 in the all-time series with Hawai'i.
  • It was the first victory for the Tritons on their home field against UH.

UP NEXT
UC San Diego will continue the series with Hawai'i on Friday at 6 p.m. in Triton Ballpark. 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.