Tritons Use Long Ball to Defeat Rainbow Warriors

UC San Diego baseball team hits three home runs in 8-0 victory over Hawaii

Apr. 5, 2026 at 10:05am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The UC San Diego baseball team defeated the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors 8-0 in their final scheduled meeting for the foreseeable future. The Tritons hit three home runs, including shots from Michael Crossland, Alex Leopard, and Gabe Camacho, to fuel the victory. The Rainbow Warriors, who will be joining the Mountain West Conference on July 1, were held to just 4 hits in the game.

Why it matters

This was the final scheduled matchup between the two Big West Conference teams, as UCSD is set to depart for the West Coast Conference in 2027. The game highlighted the changing landscape of college baseball in the region, with both programs transitioning to new conferences in the coming years.

The details

UCSD coach Eric Newman opted to use an 'opener' strategy, with Trevor Rector pitching the first inning before handing the ball to starter Austin Bowker. Bowker delivered a strong outing, going 5.2 innings and allowing just 3 hits. The Tritons broke the game open with a 4-run third inning, highlighted by the home runs from Crossland and Leopard. Camacho added a 2-run shot in the fifth to extend the lead to 6-0.

  • The game was played on April 5, 2026.
  • Hawaii will be joining the Mountain West Conference on July 1, 2026.
  • UCSD is set to depart the Big West for the West Coast Conference in the summer of 2027.

The players

UC San Diego

The UC San Diego baseball team, currently atop the Big West Conference with a 10-2 record.

University of Hawaii

The University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors baseball team, who fell to 16-13 overall and 6-9 in the Big West with the loss.

Michael Crossland

A UC San Diego player who hit a home run in the game.

Alex Leopard

A UC San Diego player who hit a home run in the game.

Gabe Camacho

A UC San Diego player who hit a home run in the game.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Things didn't definitely go our way. The team that won the game deserved to win the game.”

— Rich Hill, Hawaii Head Coach

“That play and the ensuing two-out hits were definitely a factor. But they weren't a factor in the outcome of the game. We got shut out, and only had four hits.”

— Rich Hill, Hawaii Head Coach

What’s next

The Rainbow Warriors will look to bounce back this coming weekend when they host UC Irvine in a 3-game Big West series at Les Murakami Stadium.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the changing landscape of college baseball in the region, as both UCSD and Hawaii transition to new conferences in the coming years. The Tritons' dominant performance with the long ball showed their ability to win against a conference foe, even as the Rainbow Warriors continue to face a challenging schedule in the first half of the Big West season.