PROVO, Utah --- A four-run seventh put the game out of reach for No. 21 UC Irvine as the Anteaters dropped their second series opener Thursday at BYU to fall to 11-3.

Starter Andrew Thurman pitched 6.2 innings, allowing single runs in the fourth, sixth and the seventh to fall to 1-2 on the year. The right-hander struck out three and walked just one in the effort.

Counterpart Desmond Poulson held UCI to two runs in 6.2 innings, striking out five and walking three but did not register a decision in the duel.

Ronnie Shaeffer struck first for UCI in the fourth, hitting a double to right-field to drive in Connor Spencer, who had doubled past diving first baseman Brock Whitney.

However, BYU responded in the fifth. The Cougars put runners on first and third with two outs. A wild pitch allowed Bret Lopez to score the tying run from third and Jacob Hannemann then tripled to center to give the Cougars the go-ahead run at 2-1. Brennon Anderson drew a walk to extend the inning but Law grounded out to Chris Rabago to end the frame.

The Anteaters punched back in the sixth behind Kris Paulino, who was 2 for 3 on the day and laced a two-out double to right-centerfield. Mikey Duarte delivered a clutch hit into centerfield to tie the game at two runs apiece.

UCI threatened in the seventh with runners on first and second. Poulson was lifted for Mark Anderson, whose wild pitch allowed both Anteaters to advance a base. After intentionally walking Spencer, the Cougars turned to Derek Speigner, who popped up Shaeffer to snuff out the bases-loaded opportunity.

The failed rally would come back to hurt UCI as BYU took the lead in the seventh as Hanneman belted his second RBI triple of the game, this time off reliever Elliot Surrey, to give the Cougars the go-ahead run for a second time. Surrey gave way to Kyle Hooper, who walked consecutive batters before giving up a two-run double to Jaycob Brugman as the Cougars pulled away, 6-2.

An error by Speigner in the UCI eighth allowed Taylor Sparks to reach first and Sparks would eventually come around to score on a grounder to second by Duarte, trimming the Cougar lead to three. Rabago singled up the middle and Jeff Stephens worked a two-out walk as the Anteaters loaded the bases. However, Speigner induced a routine grounder to third to deny UCI again.

Speigner earned his first win of the season (1-0) after pitching 1.1 innings and holding the Anteaters to an unearned run on two hits. James Lengal picked up his third save after retiring UCI in order in the ninth.

Ryan Cooper was 2 for 3 at the plate, filling in as the designated hitter while Sam Moore pitched a hitless inning in relief.

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