UC San Diego

LA JOLLA, Calif. — UC San Diego baseball defeated Cal State Fullerton, 10-9, in walk-off fashion in ten innings on Friday evening at Triton Ballpark. The Tritons' (24-25, 18-11 Big West) offense was highlighted by a seven-run third inning before the Titans (22-30, 14-15 Big West) rallied back to force extra innings. 
 
Gabe Camacho led the Tritons with a home run and two RBI, contributing two hits and two runs. Cal Elvis added a home run to his two-hit performance, and Anthony Potestio also recorded a home run, finishing with two hits, two runs, and one RBI. Thomas Maher registered three RBI with a double and Nathaniel Widelski knocked the game-winning RBI double in the tenth.
 
Quincey Brown (2-0) closed the game with 1.0 inning pitched, allowing no hits or runs, while issuing three walks and striking out one, earning his second win of the season. Chapman Weber impressed with 1.2 innings, striking out three without allowing a hit or run. Nic Gregson also contributed 2.0 innings of scoreless relief, striking out three and allowing two hits.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Cal State Fullerton took an early lead in the first inning with an RBI single and added to its advantage with three runs in the second, including an RBI double and two-RBI triple to lead, 4-0.
 
UC San Diego responded decisively in the third inning, scoring seven runs on five hits. Elvis and Potestio each hit solo home runs on back-to-back pitches, cutting the deficit in half, 4-2. Camacho added a single, followed by a walk to Alex Leopard and another to Trevian Martinez, loading the bases. Costello walked to bring in a run, followed by Raphael Dunne's infield single scoring another to tie the game, 4-4. Thomas Maher then doubled to right center, clearing the bases and giving the Tritons a 7-4 lead.
 
In the sixth inning, Camacho homered to deep right field with Potestio on base, increasing the Tritons' lead to 9-4.
 
Cal State Fullerton mounted a comeback in the eighth inning, scoring five runs on three hits. A ground-out scored the first run of the inning for the Titans, followed by a three-run homer, and another solo shot, tying the game at 9-9.
 
Fullerton threatened to take the lead in the ninth, with runners on the corners with two outs but an impressive defensive play by Shane Cannon at third base saved a run and kept the game knotted. With two outs in the 10th, the Titans loaded the bases via three walks but a groundout to Brown in the infield kept CSF off the board once again.
 
In the tenth inning, Addison Klepsch walked to leadoff, followed by a single by Leopard. With two outs, Nathaniel Widelski doubled with a ball off the wall in right center, driving in Klepsch and securing a 10-9 walk-off victory for the Tritons.
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• Gabe Camacho set the Tritons' new Division I program record with his 16th home run of the season, surpassing Michael Crossland's record from a season ago.
  • Camacho now leads the Big West in home runs this season.
• Cal Elvis knocked his first homer of the year, and Anthony Potestio recorded his fourth.
• The Tritons used six pitchers in the contest, including Connor Etnire, Chapman Weber, Nic Gregson, Evan Seneres, Trevor Rector and Quincey Brown.
• UC San Diego is now 14-4 in the all-time series with Cal State Fullerton and 1-0 this season. 

 
UP NEXT
UC San Diego will wrap up the regular season against Cal State Fullerton on Saturday at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and live statistics will be available via UCSDTritons.com. 
 
Prior to Saturday's contest, UC San Diego will recognize 11 Tritons playing in their final home game in Triton Ballpark. Tritons being recognized are seniors J.C. Allen, Julian Cazares, Nathan Huy, Delshaun Lanier, Alex Leopard and Ryson Ujimori, graduate students Drake Bicknell, Nick Costello, Nic Gregson and Jake Villar and senior student manager Jacob Carlos. Pregame ceremonies will begin at approximately 1:30 p.m.
 
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.