IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine was unable to recover from an early four-run deficit, falling 7-3 to San Diego Tuesday at Cicerone Field at Anteater Ballpark.
Kyle Hooper (1-3) started the game with a strikeout of national home run leader, Kris Bryant, but then allowed consecutive singles to put runners on first and third. A double steal plated one run and the Toreros took a 2-0 lead following a third hit and a wild pitch. Andrew Daniel and Troy Conyers followed with back-to-back RBI singles to complete the four-run first.
UCI got on the board in the bottom of the inning as Taylor Sparks delivered with a two-out single up the middle to drive in Chris Rabago, who had been hit by the pitch to start the frame.
Bryant reclaimed a four-run lead for USD with a one-out solo home run in the second. The Toreros extended the inning, putting runners on first and second with two outs but Mitch Merten entered in relief and fanned Austin Green to end the inning.
Merten would strike out the side in the third and then handed the ball to Jimmy Litchfield, who dealt two scoreless innings of one-hit baseball. Evan Brock also held off San Diego, facing the minimum in the sixth and seventh while striking out two.
UCI was blanked for five innings and managed a run in the seventh as Jeff Stephens doubled and eventually scored on Mikey Duarte's RBI grounder to first.
San Diego responded with two runs in the eighth and UCI would score an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth.
Hooper suffered the loss after surrendering five runs on eight hits in 1.2 innings. Connor Spencer led the team with a pair of hits and Dominique Taylor, Taylor Sparks and Mikey Duarte each drove in a run.
Lechich earned the win after pitching six innings and holding UCI to two runs (one earned) on five hits. Joe Connor was 3 for 5 with two runs scored.
The Anteaters take on Cal State Fullerton this weekend with first pitch Friday set for 8:00 p.m. in an ESPNU-televised game. Saturday's contest will be shown on Fox Sports West with first pitch at 6:00 p.m. Sunday's game is slated for 1:00 p.m.
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