IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine was held to three hits in a 2-0, 10-inning loss to Fresno State Friday at Anteater Ballpark. The opening season loss was the first in head coach Mike Gillespie's tenure and first for the Anteaters since 2006.
Both starting pitchers gave the crowd of 982 a Friday night pitchers' duel. Andrew Morales logged a seven-inning shutout, striking out eight, walking one and scattering four hits. Morales ran into a one-out bases-loaded jam in the fourth but struck out Taylor Ward and then got the force at second to end the inning. The right-hander then allowed just one hit in his final three innings before handing the ball off to junior, Sam Moore in the eighth.
Bulldog counterpart, Jordan Brink tossed 6.1 innings in the start and struck out six while walking two. Brink walked leadoff hitter, Kris Paulino and then hit Chris Rabago with the pitch to start the first inning but retired the next three in order. He gave up a lone hit to Mikey Duarte in the third before giving way to Derick Velazquez in the seventh.
Moore pitched two scoreless frames and was matched by Velazquez's 2.2 inning shutout effort. However, in the top of the 10th, Ward doubled past Taylor Sparks to lead off the frame and took third on a clean single by Brody Russell. Manny Argomaniz shot a full-count pitch past a drawn-in Sparks to drive in both runs. Moore recovered and set down the next three batters but that would be all the Bulldogs would need.
UCI got a leadoff single in the bottom of the 10th from pinch-hitter Grant Palmer but reliever Jake Shull induced a double-play grounder to second off the bat of Evan Cassolato to empty the bases. Jonathan Munoz kept the Anteaters alive with a pinch-hit double down the right-field line but Shull would strike out Kris Paulino to post the save.
The series continues Saturday at 1:00 p.m. with southpaw Elliot Surrey scheduled to face right-hander Blake Quinn.
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