IRVINE, Calif. --- The skies cleared long enough for baseball Friday night in Anteater Ballpark, however, the visiting Highlanders punched out a 3-1 victory despite a 10-strikeout performance from senior starter Elliot Surrey.
Surrey rolled along for seven innings throwing 109 pitches for UC Irvine (16-10, 1-3). He struck out at least one Highlander in each inning including multiples in the third, fifth, and seventh to pile up 10 on the night, his first 10-strikeout game of his career.
UC Riverside (13-15, 3-1) found a way around him with three consecutive two-out singles in the fourth to tie the game up at 1-1, and then a two-out, two-run double to left field provided the go-ahead and winning runs from Adonis Morrison.
Morrison's shot sent left fielder Grant Palmer to the wall as he collided with it as he attempted to make the running catch and he wasn't able to hang on.
The rare bursts of offense from the Highlanders stood up as the 'Eaters struggled to get anything going. John Brontsema tripled in the first and scored on Keston Hiura's sac fly. The hitting dissipated as the game went on with just the lone hit through six innings.
The 'Eaters finally chased starter Austin Sodders after a pair of singles to lead off the seventh fell in. A sac bunt and hit batsman loaded the bases for UCI, however relieved Keaton Leach struck out pinch-hitters Cameron Bishop and Wyatt Castro to keep the lead.
The 'Eaters got two more in scoring position in the ninth as well, but a strikeout and flyout ended it giving Ryan Lillie his second save in the 3-1 UCR victory.
Hiura was in the mix in every offensive threat adding a pair of singles to his sac fly. Brontsema and Mitchell Holland mustered the only other hits.
Surrey on the mound commanded the headlines with his strikeouts. He surpassed Anteater alums Christian Bergman, Blair Erickson, and Craig Brink on the all-time list putting him at 15th all-time. He also reached the 200-strikeout plateau becoming the 15th Anteater to attain the feat.
His third loss does loom large, however, while his lefty counterpart, Sodders, picked up his third win on 108 pitches.
Both bullpens held their own including Ben Ritchey, who added a couple of strikeouts of his own, and Miles Glazier, who stranded two more runners on base making him 8-for-8 at stranding inherited runners on the season.
The series continues Saturday with a 2:00 p.m. start between the squads. With rain on the horizon, fans are advised to keep their eyes on social media via Facebook (/ucibsb) and Twitter (@ucibsb) along with ucirvinesports.com for any updates on the game.
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