NORTHRIDGE, Calif. --- UC Irvine was unable to make up ground in the Big West standings, falling to Cal State Northridge, 6-3, Saturday at Matador Field. The Anteaters sit in third at 12-8 behind the Dirtbags (11-6), who fell to UC Davis, 5-0 and Cal State Fullerton (13-4), which lost to UC Santa Barbara, 7-1.
Chris Rabago was the third Anteater to hit three straight singles to open the second inning as the catcher drove in Jeff Stephens for a 1-0 lead.
However, Crosby Slaught found himself in early trouble in the bottom half of the frame, hitting Marty Bowen and then walking Chester Pak to put runners on first and second with one out for Kyle Attl, who singled to center, tying the game. Michael Livingston executed on the safety squeeze to give CSUN the one-run lead.
The struggles continued in the third for Slaught, who hit back-to-back batters to leadoff the inning. A double steal followed by a throwing error by Rabago, allowed Cal Vogelsang to score.
CSUN struck again in the fifth, getting a two-out, two-run double to extend the lead to 5-1 off reliever Mark Trentacosta.
Christian Ramirez and Dillon Moyer sandwiched an out with a pair of singles to put runners on first and third with one out in the top of the seventh and D.J. Crumlich drove in Ramirez with a groundball to second.
Jerry McClanahan's two-out pinch-hit single drove in Fox, who had doubled to lead off the inning, trimming the lead to 5-3. However, the Matadors benefitted from an error following a steal for the second time to put a runner on third in the eighth and delivered again with a squeeze play to reclaim a three-run edge.
Kris Paulino tried to rally the 'Eaters in the ninth with a leadoff pinch-hit single but reliever Louis Cohen retired the next three batters to earn his fifth save.
Starter Jerry Keel improved to 6-1 after dealing 7.2 innings and striking out six while giving up three runs.
Slaught allowed three runs on one hit in three innings to fall to 6-5. Trentacosta gave up two runs on three hits in two innings of work while Evan Brock yielded a run on three hits in three innings pitched. Moyer and Ramirez led UCI with two hits apiece.
The series concludes Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
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