SANTA BARBARA, Calif. --- UC Irvine left 12 runners stranded and was unable to hold off starting pitcher Robby Nesovic in a 5-3 loss Saturday at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium.
Nesovic made the start and pitched five shutout innings before giving up a three-run home run in the sixth. However, batting in the five spot, Nesovic helped his own cause by going 3 for 3 with a home run and a run scored.
UCSB got on the scoreboard in the third. Matt Whitehouse found himself in a jam after throwing the ball wide for a failed pickoff at first that allowed Joey Epperson to reach third. Brandon Twinkwon capitalized by doubling in Epperson to drive in the first run before reaching third on a balk and scoring on a hit from Woody Woodward for a 2-0 lead.
The Gauchos tacked on a run in the fourth on a hard shot to first by Epperson that skipped off Connor Spencer for an error, allowing Ryan Clark to score from second following a single and wild pitch.
However, Scott Gottschling erased the Gaucho lead with one blow in the sixth, belting his second career home run, a three-run shot over the left-field fence to knot the score at 3-3.
UCSB responded by claiming the lead again in the bottom of the inning. Whitehouse hit Swenson with the pitch and the outfielder eventually came around to score on a single to center by Woodward for his second RBI hit against the lefty.
UCI battled and put runners at first and third in seventh against reliever Greg Mahle but came up empty after Mahle induced a grounder to second to end the threat.
Closer Dylan Hecht hit the first two Anteater batters he faced in the ninth to put the tying runs aboard but rebounded by inducing a fly-ball out and then striking out the final two batters to pick up his seventh save.
Whitehouse fell to 4-5 after giving up five runs (four earned) on nine hits and striking out five. Kyle Hooper pitched 1.1 innings of hitless relief for the 'Eaters.
Gottschling led the offense with three RBI but the Anteaters were limited to five hits in the loss.
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