IRVINE, Calif. --- In a repeat of the series opener, UC Irvine (23-11, 7-1) had to hold off a late-inning rally by the Matadors to come away with the 5-4 win Saturday at Cicerone Field at Anteater Ballpark.
The Anteaters, who honored the 1973 and '74 national championship baseball teams prior to first pitch, built a 5-1 lead against the Matadors but saw CSUN trim the lead to one before securing the series on Sam Moore's 15th save to improve to 23-11 and 7-1 in the Big West.
Elliot Surrey held CSUN to one run in 6.2 innings, striking out seven and scattering four hits to improve to 5-2. The Matadors put up three runs in the eighth but Moore struck out one and yielded two hits in 1.2 innings. The junior is now two saves away from tying the UCI single-season record of 17, held by Blair Erickson (2004) and Eric Pettis (2008, '09).
The Matadors took advantage of a leadoff walk in the second issued to Nicolas Osuna, who eventually scored on a double-play groundball to short for the 1-0 lead.
UCI immediately answered in the bottom of the second. Kris Paulino, who reached first on a fielder's choice, took third on a hard hit by Castro and scored on the safety squeeze by Mikey Duarte, who led the team with two runs batted in.
The Anteaters put runners on second and third with one out in the fifth against starter Jerry Keel and Grant Palmer hit a clean single to left. However, Nick Blaser was unable to glove the ball, allowing Castro to score the go-ahead run. Chris Rabago continued the inning by flaring a pitch to right for a hit and Palmer would score on a passed ball.
Duarte delivered again in the sixth with a two-out hit to drive in Jerry McClanahan and McClanahan capped the scoring for the 'Eaters in the seventh with a timely single to drive in Taylor Sparks as UCI took a 5-1 lead.
Mitch Merten picked up for Surrey in the seventh, entering the game in a two-on, two-out situation and ended the inning with a line-drive to left that was snared by a diving Palmer.
CSUN mounted its threat in the eighth. The Matadors put a runner at first and second with one out for Chester Pak, who singled through the left side to drive in Ranny Lowe. Merten handed the ball to Moore and Blaser greeted Moore doubling to left to drive in two and shave UCI's lead to one. However, the right-hander rebounded and induced a pair of groundball outs to leave Blaser stranded at second.
The Matadors made a final push in the ninth. Brett Balkan hit a one-out single to left and AB Blanchet reached on an error by Moore but that would be all as Moore closed the door by striking out Lowe and inducing a bouncer to Sparks for the force at second.
Palmer, McClanahan and Castro each had two hits in the win for the 'Eaters.
Keel fell to 0-7 after giving up four runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings while Blaser was 1 for 4 with two RBI.
The series concludes Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
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