KNOXVILLE, Tenn. --- After dishing out 26 runs in the first two games of the series, Cameron Bishop led the charge in the finale going 6.2 innings of shutout baseball to claim the 2-0 victory over Tennessee Saturday evening in Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The lefty tossed his second consecutive quality start allowing just four hits to the Volunteers (10-6) while striking out six with two coming on the more opportune time.
Two hits and a walk loaded the bases for the Vols in the second, but the sophomore settled down and struck out a pair of hitters before getting Nick Senzel to lineout and end the inning and threat without anyone crossing home.
The hold propelled the offense in the third with singles to lead it off from Matt Reitano and John Brontsema who would come around to score on a Mitchell Holland sacrifice fly and Cole Kreuter single up the middle on a 3-0 count to score UCI's (10-6) only two runs of the game.
They weren't without their opportunities stranding 11 Anteaters in the game. Brontsema built off his four-hit game in the afternoon with another hit and two walks. Keston Hiura doubled as part of his two hits, and Wyatt Castro added a double along with two hits from Evan Cassolato.
The pitching and defense carried the load as Ben Ritchey, Dylan Riddle, and Calvin Faucher came together on the backend for the final 2.1 innings culminating in Faucher's third save of the season.
UCI duplicated Tennessee's series last season taking just one of three on the road. Each school finishes the weekend with 10 wins as UC Irvine returns home next week for a midweek meeting with Maryland followed by a three-game weekend series against Seattle, all in Anteater Ballpark.
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