IRVINE, Calif. — Despite a record-setting performance from
Steele Murdock, UC San Diego baseball dropped its first game of the Big West Championship to Cal Poly, 1-0, on Thursday evening in Anteater Ballpark. Both teams mustered just three hits, with the third-seeded Tritons (24-27) leaving nine runners on base, while the No. 2 Mustangs (34-21) scored the only run of the game in the second inning.
Steele Murdock (4-3) pitched the first complete game for the Tritons since 2024—pitching 8.0 innings and tallying 11 strikeouts and four walks on a career-high 134 pitches. Murdock became the fourth Triton all-time to reach 100 strikeouts in a season and first in the program's Division I era. His 104 strikeouts also set the program's D-I single season record.
J.C. Allen,
Trevian Martinez and
Anthony Potestio recorded the only hits for the Tritons, who were shut out for the third time this season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Cal Poly threatened in the bottom of the first inning with back-to-back two-out singles, but a strikeout from Murdock kept the game scoreless. The Tritons got their first chance the next inning, with a leadoff single from Allen and a hit-by-pitch by
Alex Leopard got two runners on with no outs. A sacrifice bunt by Martinez advanced both runners into scoring position, but a fly-out and strikeout ended the threat without a run.
The Mustangs managed their only run in the bottom of the second inning after two walks and a sacrifice groundout gave Cal Poly the same scenario as the Tritons the inning prior. An RBI single in the infield brought in the runner from third to make it 1-0.
Murdock and the Tritons retired Cal Poly in order in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings. After scoring their only run in the second, the Mustangs did not advance a runner into scoring position for the remainder of the contest.
UC San Diego was retired in order in the first, third, fifth and sixth innings. The Tritons rallied late, loading the bases with two outs in the top of the eighth. But a fielder's choice ended the threat without a run once again.
With one last opportunity in the ninth, Martinez knocked a one-out single and pinch-runner
Raphael Dunne advanced to third on a throwing error of a failed pickoff attempt. After
Nick Costello was intentionally walked on a 3-0 count, the Tritons looked to be in business. However, the Mustangs' pitching held firm with a strikeout and a fly-out to left center, leaving two runners on base to close out the game.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
TRITON TIDBITS
- Steele Murdock pitched the first complete game for the Tritons since May 17, 2024 (Anthony Eyanson vs Cal Poly).
- Murdock became the fourth Triton all-time to record 100 strikeouts in a season and first in the program's Division I era.
- He holds the team's D-I record with 104 strikeouts on the season.
- Other Tritons with 100 strikeouts include Justin Donatella (2015; D-II; 111), Tim Shibuya (2011; D-II; 109) and Rick Nowak (1988; D-III; 124).
- It was Murdock's third game this season with double-digit strikeouts and fourth outing allowing just one run.
- The contest marked the third time this season the Tritons were shutout.
- UC San Diego is now 10-10 in the all-time series with Cal Poly and 1-3 this season.
UP NEXT
No. 3 UC San Diego is set to face No. 5 Cal State Fullerton in the elimination bracket of the Big West Championship on Friday at 6 p.m. The conference tournament is being hosted at Anteater Ballpark in Irvine, Calif. with a live broadcast on ESPN+ and live statistics 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.
