DAVIS, Calif. --- UC Irvine's woes continued despite a late charge that brought the tying run to the plate in a 9-6 loss Friday afternoon in Dobbins Stadium at UC Davis.
UCI (20-14, 4-6) batted around in the ninth inning scoring four times and put two runners on base for home run-threat Andrew Martinez who would strike out to end it and give UC Davis (9-22, 2-8) their first Friday win of the season.
The Aggies grew their seven-run lead thanks to runs in six of eight offensive frames Friday capped by a three-run eighth from an RBI single and two-run double. The Aggies doubled five times on the afternoon and put up single runs in the second, third, and fourth innings before the 'Eaters got into the act.
UCI got some help reaching base on a dropped third strike and a misguided throw to second by starting pitcher Robert Garcia. Following a double steal, Cole Kreuter broke the silence with an RBI single to right followed by another RBI on a groundout from Grant Palmer to trim the deficit to 3-2.
UCD saw their two runs and called it with two of their own to stretch the lead back to three.
The Anteaters finally go to Garcia bumping him in the seventh with a pair of walks, but reliever Chris Brown sewed up the situation and left UCI high and dry once again.
The loss sends UCI to 4-6 in the Big West and Elliot Surrey to 2-4 after allowing six earned runs over 6.2 innings. Aggie starter Robert Garcia allowed just the two unearned runs over 6.1 innings striking out six.
The Anteaters had three unearned runs on the afternoon as six different players scored runs. John Brontsema was the only 'Eater to score a run and driving one home in his 2-for-5 day. Kreuter finished with two RBIs while Palmer and Mitchell Holland each drove one home as well.
Evan Cassolato saw his first action in 16 games returning from injury to start and bat ninth. He reached on an error, scored, and stole his first base on the season before exiting the game in the seventh.
Cameron Olson powered the Aggies with three hits, two of them doubles, a run, and an RBI. Mark Cardinalli homered to left as part of his two runs and two RBIs. Leadoff hitter Tanner Bily also scored twice and drove home two to join him while Spencer Henderson added a pair of RBIs and Cameron Briggs came around to score twice.
UCI has now dropped four of their last five games to go to 20-14. It will look to jumped back into the series on Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. start in Dobbins Stadium behind sophomore starter Cameron Bishop.
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