`Eaters Rally to Defeat Virginia, 6-4, Drawing Even in Super Regional
June 12, 2011 | Baseball
UC Irvine vs. Virginia
Super Regional Game 3 Viewing Party
Monday, June 13, 2011 - 1:00 p.m.
Steelhead Brewing Company in Irvine
4175 Campus Drive
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. --- Jordan Leyland's two-run double in the eighth inning helped lift UC Irvine over top-seeded Virginia, 6-4, in the Charlottesville Super Regional Sunday.
With the win, UCI (43-17) drew even in the super regional with the third and deciding game scheduled for Monday at 1:00 p.m. (PT) at Davenport Field. The game will be carried live on ESPN2 and KUCI/88.9 FM.
As the designated home team Sunday, the `Eaters were trailing 4-3 entering the bottom of the eighth inning.
Drew Hillman hit a one-out double down the left-field line. Virginia closer Branden Kline (17 saves) entered the game and hit Jordan Fox with a pitch.
Christian Ramirez then flew out to right, advancing Hillman to third. Fox stole second without drawing a throw.
Leyland cracked a double to left-center on a 2-2 pitch, scoring Hillman and Fox for a 5-4 lead.
Dillon Moyer pinch-ran for Leyland and scored on a single down the right-field line by Tommy Reyes, extending the lead to 6-4.
UCI right-hander Anderw Thurman, who pitched the last four innings to boost his record to 4-3, retired the Cavaliers in order in the ninth to set up Monday's super regional final.
Virginia (53-10) built a 3-0 lead after 4 ½ innings before inclement weather forced a delay of four hours and 18 minutes.
A sacrifice fly by John Hicks brought home Chris Taylor in the first for the game's first run as the Cavaliers took advantage of a leadoff single, a stolen base and an Anteater error that allowed Taylor to reach third.
Hicks picked up his second RBI of the game in the third on an infield single that scored Keith Werman. Colin Harrington scored from third in the top of the fifth on a throwing error by UCI third baseman Andrew Thurman to give the Cavaliers a 3-0 lead.
UCI scored its first run of the weekend in the bottom of the sixth with two out when Drew Hillman launched a 1-2 pitch to deep left for his sixth home run of the season.
The `Eaters tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh. Christian Ramirez led off with a walk and after Leyland struck out, Reyes singled to center. The ball got past Kenny Swab, scoring Ramirez and advancing Reyes to second. Ronnie Shaefferthen singled to center, scoring Reyes.
Virginia regained the lead at 4-3 in the top of the eighth when Jared King singled to left and scored on a double to right by Swab.
Matt Whitehouse started for UCI, going 5.0 innings, striking out four with only one of the three runs charged to him earned.
Tyler Wilson went the first 6.0 innings for the Cavaliers, fanning six and yielding a run.
Justin Thompson pitched 1.1 innings and was charged with three of UCI's runs. Kline took the loss for Virginia, falling to 3-1 on the season.
