LA JOLLA, Calif. — UC San Diego baseball secured a 10-6 victory over Cal State Fullerton on Thursday evening at Triton Ballpark. The Tritons' (23-25, 17-11 Big West) overcame an early deficit behind two home runs and four doubles, contributing to a 12-hit performance against the Titans (22-29, 14-14 Big West).
Nick Costello led the UC San Diego offense, recording two hits, including a home run, and driving in three runs.
Anthony Potestio posted three hits and matched Costello with three RBI, while
Gabe Camacho contributed with a home run, adding two RBI.
Steele Murdock started on the mound and pitched 3.0 innings, allowing five hits and four runs—with two earned—while striking out two batters.
Jake Villar (1-4) followed with 3.0 innings of relief, conceding five hits and two earned runs, also recording two strikeouts to earn the win.
Julian Cazares and
Kayden Henson each contributed 1.0 scoreless inning, with Cazares striking out one and Henson striking out two, allowing no hits.
Devon King closed the game with a perfect inning, striking out two batters on just 10 pitches, eight of which were strikes.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Titans jumped to a quick start in the first inning with a two-run lead, driven by an RBI double and single.Fullerton added to its lead in the second, scoring on a fielding error to make it 3-0.
The Tritons responded with three runs in the second inning.
Alex Leopard doubled and
Trevian Martinez walked, setting the stage for Costello's three-run homer to deep right field, tying the game at 3-3.
Fullerton regained a 4-3 lead in the third inning with a bases-loaded walk and added to its advantage with two more runs in the top of the fifth to lead, 6-3.
In the bottom of the fifth UC San Diego responded when Camacho hit a two-run homer to pull the Tritons within one, 6-5. The Tritons took control an inning later after loading the bases. With two outs, Potestio cleared the bases with a three-run double and
Addison Klepsch's RBI single contributed to a four-run inning, pushing UC San Diego ahead 9-6.
UC San Diego added an insurance run in the eighth inning when
Delshaun Lanier scored from second on a
Thomas Maher RBI double, making the lead 10-6.
The Tritons' pitching staff held Cal State Fullerton scoreless over the final four innings, sealing the game with a final score of 10-6.
TRITON TIDBITS
- With the win, the Tritons secured the three seed in next week's Big West Championship in Irvine.
- Gabe Camacho tied the Tritons' Division I program record with his 15th home run of the season.
- Nick Costello knocked his eighth homer of the year.
- The Tritons used five pitchers in the contest, including Steele Murdock, Jake Villar, Kayden Henson, Julian Cazares and Devon King.
- UC San Diego is now 13-4 in the all-time series with Cal State Fullerton and 1-0 this season.
UP NEXT
UC San Diego will face Cal State Fullerton in the second game of the weekend series on Friday at 4 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and live statistics will be available via 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 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.
