UCSD earns at least a share of conference championship after sweeping series at UC Riverside; Aztecs, Toreros prepare for conference tournaments
UC San Diego was picked to finish eighth in the Big West this season. UCSD coach Eric Newman was neither surprised nor offended. After all, the Tritons finished eighth in the conference a year ago and, in their third season of Division I ball, they remain the new kids on the block.
Higher standing and the respect that comes with it would not come until UCSD did something on the field.That, they did. UCSD concluded the season Sunday with a 7-4 victory at UC Riverside that completed a three-game sweep of the Highlanders and clinched at least a share of the Big West championship for the Tritons. “It’s a huge step, a huge step for the program,” Newman said by phone after the game. “Three years in Division I to win the Big West in the sport of baseball. I can’t even put that into words. “Like I said before the season, I thought we would play with a chip on our shoulder because we believed we’re better than eighth. And we talked about winning this thing because we knew we had a good team. But to win it you’ve got to have some things go your way, you’ve got to grind through some ups and downs and you’ve got to have some fantastic players. And we do.” Second-place UC Santa Barbara will need to sweep its three-game series this week at Hawaii to tie the Tritons. UCSD finished the season with a flourish, winning 12 of 14 games down the stretch. It included seven straight victories to end the season. Taking all three games at Riverside represented the seventh series sweep of the year. “I was so proud of the way they played down the stretch,” Newman said. “We had to win out to have a chance to be in this position. ... From a program standpoint, it makes a statement. It says, ‘We’re here.’ “I hope every recruit in the city of San Diego goes, ‘Wow’ and understands the culture of winning and the academics and just what a special thing we’re building here.” UCSD took the first two games against the Highlanders with relative ease, winning 11-3 and 10-6. Sunday’s game was another story. Right-hander Nic Gregson allowed one run over five innings and the Tritons led 3-1 heading to the bottom of the sixth inning. But Riverside scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie game. UCSD got the bats going again with a three-run seventh — highlighted by Michael Fuhrman’s third hit of the game and second and third RBIs — and added another run in the eighth for a 7-3 lead.Also, something to shake their heads at — the NCAA’s baffling rule that requires a program transitioning from Division II to Division I to wait four years before it is eligible for postseason play. If UCSD wins the Big West outright, then it would have earned the conference’s automatic berth to the NCAA Regionals. Except this is only the third year of the Tritons’ transition, so they’re not eligible to participate. The postseason bid will go to either UCSB or Cal State Fullerton , which is tied for second with the Gauchos. “I think it’s a dumb rule,” Newman said. “We’ve checked all the boxes. We’ve paid the money. There was no advantage gained, and here’s a team that went out and won a regular season championship. ... “It stinks because we’re in this era of student-athlete autonomy, and I’m all for that. And yet here’s a group of young men who are potentially being denied an opportunity at the postseason.” The accomplishment won’t be denied, however. UCSD soon will raise a Big West championship banner at Triton Ballpark.The Toreros , their regular season complete, focused on finals while the rest of the West Coast Conference schedule was completed this weekend. That set the standings for the six-team conference tournament this week in Las Vegas. Loyola Marymount won the WCC regular season crown. USD tied for second place with Santa Clara and Portland , but the Toreros are seeded fourth in the tournament after losing series to both schools.Top-seeded LMU and No. 2 seed Santa Clara receive first-round byes. In Wednesday’s opening games, No. 3 Portland plays No. 6 Gonzaga and No. 4 USD plays No. 5 Saint Mary’s in must-win play-in games to advance to the main double-elimination bracket.
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