UC San Diego advances to Big West Championship after ousting top-seeded UC Santa Barbara

UC San Diego startled top-seeded UC Santa Barbara in the first inning of their Big West Championship game on Saturday afternoon, scoring five runs in the first inning with the benefit of just one hit.

UCSD parlayed its good fortune and a complete-game shutout by starting pitcher Nathan Ries into a 7-0 victory that eliminated UCSB and advanced the third-seeded Tritons to the championship against second-seeded Cal Poly.

UCSD (26-27) stayed on the field after beating UCSB (38-18) to meet the Mustangs (35-21) in Saturday’s late game. Cal Poly, which beat UCSD 1-0 on Thursday, can take the title with a victory. The Tritons need a win to force a winner-take-all game on Sunday. The Big West champion receives an automatic berth to next week’s NCAA Regionals.

The Tritons (26-27) are attempting to make the Division I tournament for the first time following a four-year reclassification period from Division II.

Ries (3-3), a sophomore right-hander from Upland, was outstanding for UCSD, pitching four innings longer than he had all season. He allowed four hits, walked two and struck out four, challenging UCSB batters after being staked to the early lead.

UCSD starting pitcher Kellan Montgomery, who limited UCSD to one hit over eight innings when the teams met last month, hit two batters and walked another to provide the fuel for the Tritons’ big first inning. There were also two throwing errors behind him that led to four unearned runs for the Tritons.

UCSD improved its lead to 7-0 in the fourth inning on Addison Klepsch’s two-run single.

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This story was originally published May 23, 2026 at 4:13 PM.