UC San Diego baseball secured a 12-6 win over UC Riverside in the Big West home opener on Mar. 20, giving head coach Eric Newman his 455th career victory and making him the winningest coach in program history. The game took place at Triton Ballpark, where the Tritons improved their record to 8-10 overall and 4-0 in conference play.
Newman’s achievement surpasses former head coach Dan O’Brien, who led the team from 1998 to 2010. This milestone highlights Newman’s impact on the program and marks a significant moment for UC San Diego baseball.
The Tritons’ offense was led by Delshaun Lanier, who hit his first collegiate grand slam and drove in five runs while scoring twice. Addison Klepsch contributed with a home run, a double, three RBI, and two runs scored. On the mound, Steele Murdock pitched six innings with eight strikeouts and allowed only one earned run. Jake Villar provided relief with three strikeouts in one inning, while Quincey Brown closed out the game by retiring both batters he faced.
The game saw UC San Diego take an early lead before breaking it open with a six-run sixth inning. The Highlanders attempted a late comeback but were held off as the Tritons secured their victory to begin the series.
This win also improves UC San Diego’s all-time series record against UC Riverside to 18-16 overall and 15-3 since joining Division I. The team used five pitchers throughout the contest: Murdock, Villar, Harry Pelzman, Chapman Weber, and Brown.
Looking ahead, UC San Diego will continue its weekend series against UC Riverside on Saturday at Triton Ballpark. The game is scheduled for broadcast on ESPN+ with live statistics available through UCSDTritons.com.
