The Tritons started off their season, on February 13th, this year with a slow start by dropping two out of the first three games in a non-conference matchup with UCSB this past weekend.

In the first game, senior Andrew Hinkle matched up with UCSB’s Jake Renzee in a pitcher’s duel that went back and forth for most of the game. The Tritons scored one early run to get on the board in the second inning thanks to an RBI hit by freshman, Seamus Beyerle. UCSB fought back with runs in the fourth and fifth innings against Andrew Hinkle and the Tritons struggled to cash in with runners in scoring position until the seventh inning when Hinkle hit a double down the right field line to tie the game at 2. But after a close play at the plate went against the Tritons, UCSB walked off in the bottom of the seventh inning to a 3-2 win.

In the second game of the series, the Tritons came out swinging with six runs in the first inning and never looked back with seven runs in the third inning and four in the fourth as well. All of the runs were highlighted by great games by sophomore Jordan Kassem, junior Bobby Young, senior Nathan Domico, junior Amandip Bangar, and senior Jake Cloutier. All the run support helped junior Yousef Koutnik get through four innings with only three runs given up and the Tritons mercied UCSB 21-6 after five innings. In the tiebreaking game of the series, the Tritons played a back and forth game that featured 27 runs over 9 innings. UCSB got out to a quick three-run start against junior Kevin Nieh but the Tritons fought back with five runs in the third inning highlighted by sophomore Jordan Kassem, junior Nick Walsh, junior Bobby Young, and freshman Seamus Beyerle. UCSB fought back with a run in the fourth and then both teams scored three runs in the fifth which had the Tritons holding onto a one run lead after the fifth inning. But a four-run seventh inning put the UCSB Gauchos ahead and although the Tritons fought back with two in the eighth, including the first home run courtesy of Seamus Beyerle, it wasn’t enough to make up for the deficit and the Tritons lost the last game 15-11.

The Tritons look to get off to a better start in conference with an upcoming series against NAU this weekend with one 9-inning game on Saturday 10am and two 7-inning games on Sunday at 10am and 1pm at Valhalla High School. Hope to see you all out there!