IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine (22-9, 4-4) had its six game win streak snapped after being held to one run in a 2-1 loss to Cal State Northridge (19-16, 5-3) Saturday at Cicerone Field at Anteater Ballpark.
UCI starter Matt Whitehouse worked with a 1-0 lead after Connor Spencer plated the first run of the game in the bottom of the first on a wild pitch from Calvin Copping. Spencer slapped a two-out single through the right-side and took second on a wild pitch. Taylor Sparks beat the throw on an infield single, putting runners on first and third and Spencer would score on the second wild pitch of the inning.
The Matadors answered in the third, getting a two-out hit from Kyle Attl to score Nicola Osuna, who singled to the 5-6 hole to lead off the frame.
Whitehouse held CSUN scoreless until the seventh. Designated hitter Michael Najera's hit to right got past a diving Scott Gottschling for a leadoff triple and Michael Livingston hit a single past a drawn-in infield for the 2-1 lead.
The Anteaters had opportunities in the second with runners on first and third with no outs and in the fifth with runners at the corners with two outs but would come up empty. The team's final chance to score came via Sparks single with one out in the eighth. Coppin induced a grounder to short with Sparks advancing to second on the play. Sparks then took third on a wild pitch by reliever DJ Milam, but Milam forced a fly-out to right to snuff out the threat.
Whitehouse suffered the loss, falling to 3-3 after six innings of two-run baseball. The lefty struck out eight and walked two while scattering nine hits.
Coppin improved to 3-3 after dealing 7.2 innings and giving up just one run on seven hits. Milam posted his first save of the year after 1.1 innings of no-hit relief.
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