IRVINE, Calif. --- No. 21 UC Irvine suffered its first loss of the season, an 8-6 decision to start the day, but won game two in the bottom of the 10th, 4-3, to go 1-1 against California Saturday at Cicerone Field at Anteater Ballpark.
Tied 2-2 after nine, the see-saw battle went into the 10th and the Golden Bears' Devon Rodriguez doubled to lead off the inning against Elliot Surrey. After the successful sacrifice bunt and a walk issued to Max Dutto, Jacob Wark's sacrifice fly would score pinch-runner Sean Peters to give Cal a 3-2 lead. Mitchell Kranson extended the inning with a two-out single but Jimmy Litchfield was called out of the bullpen and induced a grounder to second to end the inning.
Dominique Taylor sparked the Anteaters in the bottom of the frame, smacking a one-out double to right-centerfield. Taylor Sparks followed with a single off the glove of Dutto to put runners on first and third. Ronnie Shaeffer swung at a 1-1 pitch that bounced out in front of the plate but catcher Andrew Knapp slipped while fielding the ball and was unable to tag Taylor, who scored on the play. Connor Spencer reached on a fielder's choice to extend the inning and Cal lifted Logan Scott for Michael Lowden, who walked Jerry McClanahan on four straight pitches to load the bases. Outfielder Scott Gottschling drew a full-count walk to push across the game-winning run.
Starter Kyle Hooper lasted 6.1 innings and struck out five while allowing two runs on six hits and walking two. Surrey logged his longest outing at 3.1 innings and struck out four, including the side in the ninth. Litchfield was credited with the win (1-0) after retiring the only batter he faced in the Cal 10th.
Six Anteaters recorded two hits apiece with Shaeffer, Spencer, Gottschling and Chris Rabago each notching a run batted in.
____________________________________________________________
For UC Irvine Athletics ticket information, please call (949) 824-5000 or e-mail athletics.tickets@uci.edu. For more information click here.
For information on how you can help support UC Irvine Athletics, please call (949) 824-6933 or e-mail aaf@uci.edu. For additional information, click here.
You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
