IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine ended the weekend on a high note cutting down the Highlanders, 8-3, to win the series Sunday afternoon in Anteater Ballpark.
Rocky first innings for each squad were ultimately won by the Anteaters (18-10, 3-3) who had Mitchell Miller get out of his own bases-loaded jam unscathed in his debut as a starter.
UCI got to Riverside's freshman Hazahel Quijada putting two across on a walk and sac fly for the early 2-0 lead.
UC Riverside (13-17, 3-3) fought back with a run to Miller in the second, but Alonzo Garcia stepped up to strand a pair of runners thanks to two strike outs and keep the 2-1 edge.
After a third run the next inning, UCI slapped a four-spot on the in the fourth capped off by a two-run single from Grant Palmer giving him 3 RBIs on the day and stretching the lead to 7-3.
The Highlanders crept closer with a 2-out, 2-run triple from Cody Sporrer, but Shaun Vetrovec would end the rally. UCI added another run on a wild pitch in the seventh, and four scoreless innings down the stretch would seal the 8-3 victory and wrap up the series.
Garcia would claim the win, his second, with 3.2 impressive innings of relief that including six strikeouts. Vetrovec along with Miles Glazier and Jordan Bocko threw shutout ball for the final 4.1 innings allowing just two hits.
UCR's starter lasted just five hitters before being pulled. Quijada suffered his first loss allowing two earned runs. Angel Landazuri pitched well over 3.1 innings, but was on the hook for five of the runs.
UCI's offense ran through Grant Palmer who registered his first career four-hit game. He finished the series with six hits in his final seven at-bats, and is now hitting .550 in six conference games. His three RBIs matched his single-game high set twice before.
The rest of the lineup made some noise with three-hit games from John Brontsema and Mitchell Holland. Jake Hazard reached twice and scored each time. Parker Coss had a pair of hits and an RBI as the 'Eaters punched out 14 hits on the day.
The win evens the 'Eaters in Big West play now 3-3. Overall, the team stands at 18-10 with another non-conference match on the horizon. UCI travels to Bakersfield for a 6:00 p.m. game on Tues. Apr. 12. That will be followed by a three-game set at Long Beach State, the beginning of eight straight on the road for the Anteaters.
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