LA JOLLA, Calif. (Interstat) — Nick Costello’s three-run homer and Anthony Potestio’s three-run double highlighted a 10-6 UC San Diego victory over Cal State Fullerton on Thursday night at Triton Baseball Field in a Big West Conference matchup.

The Tritons improved to 23-25 overall, while the Titans dropped to 21-28.

Cal State Fullerton jumped out to an early lead, scoring twice in the top of the first inning. Miller walked and later scored on a double by Kim. Olazaba followed with an RBI single to make it 2-0. The Titans added an unearned run in the second after Meyer reached on a throwing error by third baseman Allen, stretching the lead to 3-0.

The game’s first pivotal moment came in the bottom of the second. With two outs, Alex Leopard doubled and Martinez walked, bringing Costello to the plate. He crushed a 3-1 pitch over the right-field wall for his team-leading 12th home run, scoring Leopard, Martinez and himself to tie the game at 3-3.

Cal State Fullerton regained the lead in the fifth. Olazaba and Wilkinson singled, Meyer walked, and Lombardi delivered a two-run single up the middle that scored Olazaba and Wilkinson, putting the Titans ahead 5-3. Lombardi was thrown out trying to advance on the play.

UC San Diego answered immediately in the bottom of the fifth. Potestio singled, and two batters later Gabe Camacho launched a two-run homer to left-center, his 15th of the season, scoring Potestio and tying the game at 5-5.

The decisive rally came in the sixth. Leopard flied out to begin the inning, but Martinez walked and Costello singled. With Cal State Fullerton starter Mikiah Negrete replaced by reliever Mayer, the Tritons loaded the bases on a Lanier walk. Ujimori grounded into a fielder’s choice that cut down Martinez at the plate, but Potestio followed with a bases-clearing double to left field, scoring Costello, Lanier and Ujimori to give UC San Diego an 8-5 lead. Klepsch added an RBI single later in the inning to push the margin to 9-5.

Cal State Fullerton pulled a run back in the sixth on a fielding error, but UC San Diego answered in the eighth. With two outs, Potestio singled, and Maher doubled down the right-field line to score Lanier and make it 10-6.

Costello finished 2 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs. Potestio went 3 for 5 with three RBIs. Camacho was 1 for 5 with two RBIs. Leopard contributed two hits. For Cal State Fullerton, Olazaba had three hits and Lombardi drove in two runs.

UC San Diego used six pitchers. Starter Jake Villar worked three innings, allowing five hits and two earned runs while striking out two. Kayden Henson, Julian Cazares and Devon King each tossed a scoreless inning of relief, with King striking out two in the ninth to close the game. Cal State Fullerton’s Negrete took the loss, allowing seven earned runs on five hits over 5⅓ innings with three strikeouts.

The Titans managed 10 hits but left seven runners on base. The Tritons collected 12 hits.

The game marked the opener of a three-game series. The teams meet again Friday and Saturday at Triton Baseball Field. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of UC San Diego 5, Cal State Fullerton 3, and the ELO system gave the Tritons a 53.40 percent probability to win.