LA JOLLA, Calif.— With two more home series left this season, UC San Diego baseball will play host to UC Irvine for three games this weekend in Triton Ballpark.
 
The Tritons (16-20, 12-6 Big West) will take on the Anteaters (17-21, 8-10 Big West) beginning Friday at 6 p.m. The series will pick up Saturday at 2 p.m. and conclude on Sunday at 1 p.m. 
 
UC San Diego will also host Loyola Marymount for a midweek matchup on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Triton Ballpark. 
 
The first 300 fans in attendance on Friday night will receive a Tridents Up foam finger. All games will be broadcast on ESPN+ and live statistics will be available for via UCSDTritons.com. 
 
IMPACTED PARKING
UC San Diego's campus will be the site of the 2026 NCAA Women's Water Polo National Championship this weekend at Canyonview Aquatic Center in La Jolla. With the proximity to Triton Ballpark, parking may be impacted on Friday due to a high volume of traffic. Full schedule can be found here. 
 
DETAILS 
Games 37-39
UC San Diego (16-20, 12-6) vs UC Irvine (17-21, 8-10)
Friday at 6 p.m. | Saturday at 2 p.m. | Sunday at 1 p.m.
Triton Ballpark (500) | La Jolla, Calif.
All-time series: 7-11
Division I series: 7-9
Last meeting: UC San Diego won the series, 2-1 (May 2-4, 2025)
Last UCSD win: 4-0 (May 3, 2025)
Last UCI win: 8-4 (May 4, 2025)
Streak: L1
Game 1 on ESPN + | Game 2 on ESPN+ | Game 3 on ESPN+
Game 1 Stats | Game 2 Stats | Game 3 Stats
 
Game 40
UC San Diego vs Loyola Marymount (12-30)
Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Triton Ballpark (500) | La Jolla, Calif.
All-time series: 2-0
Last meeting: UCSD 6, LMU 5 (April 21, 2025)
Streak: W2
Watch on ESPN+ | Live Stats
 
UP NEXT
The Tritons will begin a stretch of back-to-back Big West road series, traveling to face Long Beach State for a weekend series beginning May 1 at 1 p.m. The Sunday finale will be the only broadcast on ESPN+ and live statistics will be available for all games via UCSDTritons.com.
 

ABOUT THE TRITONS	ABOUT UC IRVINE
Roster | Schedule | Stats	Roster | Schedule | Stats
Overall: 16-20	Overall: 17-21
Big West: 12-6	Big West: 8-10
Home: 7-8	Home: 9-11
Away: 9-12	Away: 6-9
Neutral: 0-0	Neutral: 2-1
vs. Ranked Opponents: 1-4	vs. Ranked Opponents: 2-6
Streak: L1	Streak: L1

 
WEEKEND PROBABLES
Fri: RHP Steele Murdock (UCSD) vs RHP Trevor Hansen (UCI)
Sat: RHP Trevor Rector (UCSD) vs RHP Finnegan Wall (UCI)
Sun: RHP Nic Gregson (UCSD) vs TBD
 
LAST TIME OUT
UC San Diego dropped two of three to Cal Poly over the weekend, falling on Friday, 11-3, and on Saturday, 5-3. The Tritons rallied to take the series finale on Sunday, 16-15, trading the lead five times in the late innings before Gabe Camacho's two-RBI walk-off single in the ninth.
 
On Tuesday, UC San Diego fell in extra innings at the University of San Diego, 6-5. The Tritons held a two-run lead before USD tied the game in the eighth and eventually hit the game-winner in the 10th. The teams played their fourth extra-inning game in the last six meetings, with five of those games being decided by one run. The season series finished 1-1 with both games going to 10 innings and resulting in a walk-off victory for the home team.
 
Weekend Top Performers:
Gabe Camacho: 5-for-12 (.417), 4 r, 2 2b, 1 hr, 5 rbi, 10 tb, .833 slg%, 1 bb, 2 hp, .533 ob%
Michael Crossland: 5-for-12 (.417), 5 r, 2 hr, 3 rbi, 11 tb, .917 slg%, 1 bb, 1 hp, .500 ob%
Nick Costello: 3-for-8 (.375), 2 r, 1 hr, 4 rbi, .750 slg%, 4 bb, 1 hp, .615 ob%
 
Jake Villar: 0.00 era, 0-0, 2 app, 3.2 ip, 3 h, 0 r, 0 bb, 3 k, 0.82 whip, .214 avg
Ethan Russell: 0.00 era, 0-0, 1 app, 1.1 ip, 0 h, 0 r, 2 k, 0.00 whip, .000 avg
Austin Bowker: 4.91 era, 0-0, 1 app, 3.2 ip, 6 h, 2 r, 2 bb, 3 k, 2.18 whip, .400 avg
 
BIG WEST STANDINGS
With the second half of the Big West schedule underway, the Tritons are currently in a three-way tie at the top with UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly. All three teams have a 12-6 record in conference play. The top five teams will earn a trip to the Big West postseason tournament, taking place May 20-24 at Anteater Ballpark in Irvine, Calif.
 
UCSB and Cal Poly own the tiebreakers with the Tritons, with both teams taking their respective series, 2-1. Cal State Fullerton currently sits in fourth place and CSUN is fifth in the standings. 
 
MATCHING UP AGAINST THE BIG WEST
Gabe Camacho ranks fourth in the Big West in home runs (11), fifth in RBI (37) and total bases (79), sixth in slugging percentage (.577), seventh in runs scored (32) and eighth in OPS (.983), while also ranking first in the conference and fifth nationally in hit by pitch (22). He is currently leading the team in slugging percentage, runs batted in, home runs, total bases, games started (36), sacrifice flies (3) and hit by pitch and second in runs scored, third in batting average (.261) and hits (36) and fourth in on base percentage (.406).
 
Anthony Potestio ranks first in the conference in base on balls (0.80 per game, 28 total), second, fifth in runs scored (33), seventh in stolen bases (9) and 15th in on base percentage (.419). Alex Leopard joins Potestio at the top of the Big West in walks (28) and ranks eighth in on base percentage (.437) and 15th in runs scored. J.C. Allen is 13th in doubles (10), 15th in RBI (27) and 17th in hits (41), leading the team with a .293 batting average. Michael Crossland (9) and Nick Costello (7) are fifth and ninth respectively in home runs.
 
Steele Murdock leads the Big West in strikeouts per nine innings (13.13), which ranks 18th in the country and ranks third in the conference (37th nationally) in total strikeouts (70). Nic Gregson ranks fifth in strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.00) and in walks allowed per nine innings (1.86). Both rank third in the conference in games started (10).
 
TRITON TEAM STATS
As a team, the Tritons lead the Big West in base on balls (185) and rank second in home runs (44 total, 1.22 per game) and hit by pitch (85), fourth in slugging percentage (.401) and in scoring (6.1 runs per game, 220 total runs).
 
In conference-only stats, UC San Diego jumps to third in batting average (.281), second in slugging percentage (.490) and first in on-base percentage (.415). The Tritons are first in home runs (28), RBI (135), runs scored (144), walks (107) and hit by pitch (43). UC San Diego's conference ERA sits at 5.48 which ranks eighth and the Tritons have allowed the third fewest walks (61), while collecting 154 strikeouts in conference play.
 
CHALLENGING SCHEDULE
UC San Diego has had one of the most challenging non-conference schedules in the country, facing three teams currently ranked in the top 25 in RPI. The Tritons played series against UCLA (No. 1), Oregon (22) and Cincinnati (25), ranking as high as No. 19 in RPI after the completion of their preseason slate. UC San Diego also faced conference opponent UC Santa Barbara, currently ranked No. 26. 
 
According the D1Baseball, the Tritons strength of schedule ranks 23rd overall and third in non-conference play with three quad one wins (3-12 in Q1).
 
The Bruins are currently ranked No. 1 in D1Baseball's top 25, with only three losses this season—one coming against the Tritons (Feb. 15)—while Oregon is ranked No. 19. Six of the Tritons opponents this season competed in the 2025 NCAA Baseball Championship, including Regional participants Cal Poly, Cincinnati, Creighton, UC Irvine and Oregon, as well as the Bruins who advanced to the CWS in Omaha.
 
NEWMAN BECOMES WINNINGEST COACH FOR TRITON BASEBALL
With a 12-6 victory over UC Riverside (March 20), UC San Diego head coach Eric Newman became the winningest coach in program history, surpassing Dan O'Brien (1998-2010) with his 455th victory. Newman currently holds a 463-308 career record with the Tritons.
 
MURDOCK EARNS CONFERENCE AND NATIONAL WEEKLY HONORS (APR. 14)
Right hander Steele Murdock was named Big West Pitcher of the Week and earned a place on Baseball America's Week 9 National Team of the Week after a record-setting performance at UC Santa Barbara. Murdock set the Tritons' all-time single game record with 17 strikeouts in 8.0 innings against the Gauchos, surpassing the previous record of 13. At the time, it was the most strikeouts in a single game for a pitcher in NCAA Division I this season. 
 
He allowed just four base runners and faced three over the minimum, throwing 76 of his 106 pitches for strikes with no walks. He gave up three hits and just one run for the Friday night road win. Murdock (Herriman, Utah) retired 10 of the final 11 batters he faced via strikeout, including striking out the side in the sixth and eighth innings and recorded all but one of his 17 K's via swinging strikeout.
 
BOWKER NAMED UCU ATHLETE OF THE WEEK (APR. 6)
Right hander Austin Bowker turned in a strong performance in the Saturday series finale, pitching 5.2 scoreless innings against Hawai'i to help the Tritons secure their first shutout of the season and the series over UH. Bowker limited the Rainbow Warriors to three hits with two walks and two strikeouts. He forced six fly-outs and seven groundouts, recording a 0.88 WHIP and .167 opponent batting average for the 8-0 victory.
 
ALLEN NAMED BIG WEST FIELD PLAYER OF THE WEEK (MAR. 16)
Senior J.C. Allen led the Tritons to their first series sweep of the season, taking all three at CSUN and earning his first career Big West Field Player of the Week honor. Allen finished 10-for-17 (.588) with 10 RBI and three runs scored, recording a 1.176 slugging percentage. He knocked four doubles and two home runs, tallying a .588 on base percentage. In Friday's 17-16 slugfest, he went 4-for-7 with four RBI and two runs scored via two doubles and a home run. On Saturday in a 6-4 ballgame, he finished 3-for-4 with two RBI, including a double and a home run. In the Sunday finale, Allen went 3-for-6 with four RBI and a double to lead UC San Diego to the 12-4 victory.
 
ALLEN, CROSSLAND LAND ON PRESEASON COACHES' TEAM
Third baseman J.C. Allen and center fielder Michael Crossland were named to the 2026 Big West Baseball Preseason Coaches' Team after the duo earned All-Big West First Team accolades a season ago. Eleven scholar-athletes were recognized by the conference's 11 head coaches, with six pitchers, three infielders and two outfielders earning a spot on the preseason team. The Tritons were one of four teams with multiple honorees, including Hawai'i (3), Cal Poly (2) and UC Irvine (2).
 
A junior college transfer, Allen was a standout in his first season in La Jolla, starting 48 of the Tritons' 51 games and finishing second on the team with 14 home runs. Allen led the team in runs batted in (53) and doubles (16), with both numbers ranking fourth in the Big West at the end of the regular season. The rising senior recorded a .304 batting average and .394 on base percentage, with a .620 slugging percentage good enough for fourth in the conference as well. Allen was red hot down the final stretch of the regular season, collecting 21 RBI in the last 10 games and knocking six homers in the last six games, including the final long ball of the season to set the UC San Diego single season team record with 80 home runs.
 
Crossland had a record-setting sophomore season, leading the team in most statistical categories. The rising junior was tops on the team in batting average (.341), slugging percentage (.644), hits (70), home runs (15), runs scored (49), total bases (132) and games started (50) and second in doubles (15), RBI (44) and stolen bases (6). At the conclusion of the regular season, Crossland ranked first in the Big West in slugging percentage and home runs. He set the Tritons' Division I record with 15 homers, which is tied for second all-time in the UC San Diego single season record book.
 
TRITONS PICKED SIXTH IN PRESEASON POLL
UC San Diego was picked to finish sixth in the Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll with 60 total points. UC Santa Barbara was picked to finish first with 95 points and five of the 11 first-place votes, followed by Cal Poly with 89 points and five first-place votes as well. UC Irvine rounded out the top three with 86 points and the remaining first-place vote.
 
Cal State Fullerton and Hawai'i were tied in fourth with 67 points apiece, followed by UC San Diego (60 points), Long Beach State (41), UC Davis (40), CSUN (25), Cal State Bakersfield (22) and UC Riverside (13).
 
EXPERIENCED ROSTER
The Tritons return 23 scholar-athletes from their 2025 roster, including five starting position players and two starting pitchers from a team that finished 15-15 in conference play last season. UC San Diego's roster includes five 2025 All-Big West honorees, including first-teamers J.C. Allen, Gabe Camacho and Michael Crossland and honorable mentions Alex Leopard and Anthony Potestio. The Tritons also get back 2024 All-Big West Honorable Mention Nick Costello, who sat out all of 2025 due to injury.
 
Right-hander Steele Murdock will lead a talented Triton pitching staff after being recognized as a 2025 Cape Cod League All-Star—along with Potestio. Veteran right-hander Nic Gregson, lefty Jake Villar and right-hander Nathan Ries also highlight a stacked staff for UC San Diego.
 
FRESH FACES
The Tritons add 17 talented newcomers to their roster in 2026, including four junior college transfers, two Division I transfers and one Division II transfer as well as 10 true freshmen.
 
DALQUIST SELECTED IN 2025 MLB DRAFT
Right-hander Matthew Dalquist was selected on day two of the 2025 MLB Draft, taken in the 18th round (539 overall) by the Minnesota Twins. Dalquist was an All-Big West Second Team selection as the Tritons' Friday starter in 2025, making 14 starts with a record of 6-5 and a 4.43 ERA. He collected 67 strikeouts compared to just 13 walks in 81.1 innings of work. 
 
The Redondo Beach native ranked first in the Big West and 16th nationally in walks allowed per nine innings (1.44), third in the conference (24th nationally) in strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.15) and third in the Big West (11th nationally) in games started (14).
 
Dalquist becomes the fourth Triton to be selected in the MLB Draft in the program's Division I era, joining the trio of Ryan Forcucci, Matt Halbach and Izaak Martinez who were all selected in 2024. The UC San Diego baseball program has had 27 scholar-athletes selected in the MLB Draft since 1974, with Forcucci as the highest pick after being taken by the Houston Astros in the third round (101 overall).
 
NEWMAN LEADING THE WAY
Head coach Eric Newman enters his 15th season at the helm of the Triton baseball program, compiling a 463-308 (.608) record at UC San Diego and earning 2023 Big West Coach of the Year. Newman has also been named ABCA/Diamond West Region Coach of the Year three times (2017, 2018, 2019) during his tenure in La Jolla.

A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE
While at the Division II level, UC San Diego baseball experienced great success for 20 years as a member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The Tritons amassed six regular season titles in arguably the toughest conference nationally in the NCAA Division II. UC San Diego made five appearances in the NCAA D-II World Series, and most recently appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 2019. 
 
During his nine seasons coaching the Tritons at Division II, Eric Newman was named ABCA/Diamond West Region Coach of the Year for three consecutive seasons (2017-2019) and also twice recognized as CCAA Coach of the Year (2012, 2019).

UC SAN DIEGO HEADED TO THE WCC
On Sept. 3, 2025, UC San Diego accepted a formal invitation to join the West Coast Conference (WCC) beginning July 1, 2027. UC San Diego will compete in 14 of the West Coast Conference's 16 sponsored sports, including men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, women's volleyball, men's and women's cross country, men's water polo, baseball, softball, men's and women's tennis, men's golf and women's rowing. The university remains committed to finding a conference affiliation for its sports that will not compete in the West Coast Conference.
 
Beginning in 2027-28, the WCC membership will consist of: University of California San Diego, Loyola Marymount University, University of the Pacific, Pepperdine University, University of Portland, Saint Mary's College, University of San Diego, University of San Francisco, Santa Clara University, and Seattle University. UC San Diego will become the first public institution in the West Coast Conference since the departure of the University of Nevada-Reno in 1979.
 
ANDY FEE NAMED ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AT UC SAN DIEGO 
On Sept. 10, 2025, UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla announced the hiring of college sports veteran Andy Fee as the Tritons' new Director of Athletics. Fee will become just the fourth Director of Athletics at UC San Diego since 1966. Fee joins the Tritons after spending the 2024-25 season as Deputy AD at Seattle University. Prior to Seattle U, Fee spent two years at Washington as Deputy AD and Chief of Staff. 
 
Before relocating to Seattle, Fee spent five years as Director of Athletics at Long Beach State from 2017 to 2022. During this time, Long Beach State's athletic programs found great success as the school advanced to the postseason in 18 of its 19 sports programs in his five-year tenure. The Beach won a pair of national championships in men's volleyball and claimed The Big West Commissioner's Cup three times. 
 
No stranger to conference transition, Fee will help guide the Tritons into the West Coast Conference in 2027-28. He also helped guide Washington into the Big Ten and Seattle U into the WCC in July.
 
WHY THE TRITONS
The Triton is described as the offspring of Poseidon and Amphitrite, a demigod of the sea with a lower part of the body like that of a fish. It is known as a mighty and fierce sea warrior. Given UC San Diego's close proximity to the Pacific Ocean and its connections with the world-famous Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Triton became our mascot in 1964.
 
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 39 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 institutions in NCAA Division I or II.