UC San Diego is now participating in Big West Conference play at the NCAA Division I level. That fact – and the recent extension of the San Diego Trolley to the La Jolla campus — has created a new rivalry series with the San Diego State University baseball team.
The two campuses are now linked by rails, allowing fans to hop on the trolley and easily venture between the teams’ games. Dubbed the “Trolley Series,” the Aztecs and Tritons will play four games this season — two at the home of each team.
Halfway through the newly christened rivalry series, the teams are tied with a win apiece (coming on the opponent’s field).
SDSU surged past UC San Diego, 14-7, on March 22 as the Aztecs set season highs with 14 runs and 14 hits to snap a seven-game losing streak. The Tritons got the better of their hosts in a 4-0 shutout victory March 29 at Tony Gwynn Stadium to even the inaugural series.
Eight of SDSU’s nine position starters recorded at least one hit in the opening leg of the series, including three apiece by Cole Carrigg and Caden Miller, who tied his career high with four RBI. Carrigg totaled two RBI and two runs scored as well, along with Deron Johnson (Poway) and Brian Leonhardt (Eastlake).
The Aztecs erased a 4-3 UCSD lead by exploding for six runs on five hits in the top of the sixth inning. Leonhardt delivered the big hit with a two-run double with two outs.
SDSU had 11 players score at least one run. The Aztecs sent seven pitchers to the mound, recording 12 strikeouts. Jonny Guzman (1-2) picked up his first collegiate win as the visitors improved to 5-15 on the season.
In the return leg, Leonhardt (0- 1) was saddled with the loss after surrendering all four Tritons in his two-inning start on five hits and one walk. However, five ensuing Aztec hurlers — Eldridge Armstrong, Avery Jones, Omar Serrano, Chris Canada and Hunter Cranton — kept the visitors scoreless for the rest of the game while allowing just two hits and striking out seven batters.
The Tritons (9-15) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Marc Filia laced a two-out double to left field to score Austin Smith (Granite Hills) and Jalen Smith, who had previously reached on a walk and single, respectively.
UCSD scored two more runs in the top of the second inning to double its lead as Noah Sudyka singled in Ryan McNally and Austin Smith later delivered a base hit to score Brock Kleszcz.
The Aztecs were limited to four hits on the night, including two by Miller, who stole a career high three bases.
Zack Ernisse (1-1) was credited with the win for the Tritons after striking out five of the six batters he faced in the sixth and seventh innings.
The Trolley Series continues April 19 at UC San Diego and concludes May 3 at SDSU. Both games are slated for 6 p.m. starts.
Santana alumnus Tyler Glowacki is having a solid season thus far for the Aztecs with a .291 hitting average to go with six doubles ande eight RBI in 23 starts while ex-Eagle Smith is hitting .293 with two home runs and 19 RBI for the Tritons in 26 starts.
