photo credit to Steve Coburn

IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine made a two-run first inning stand up as the efforts of Louis Raymond and Andre Pallante gave the 'Eaters a 2-1 win Thursday night in Anteater Ballpark over UC Davis.

UCI (22-32, 8-14) had its first three batters reach topped off by an RBI single from Keston Hiura to open up the scoring at 1-0. Parker Coss jumped on board with another RBI single extending the lead to 2-0 before a double play ball stopped the rally.

UCI was doubled up three times in the first four innings as UC Davis (20-29, 9-13) starter Orlando Razo settled into a groove allowing just three hits over the remainder of his seven innings and 123 pitches.

Louis Raymond on the Anteater mound matched him pitching into the eighth inning allowing a single two-out run and inducing a pair of double plays of his own.

Andre Pallante was asked to relieve Raymond in the eighth, and with the bases loaded and one out, he got his double play ball fielding a comebacker and throwing to Alex Guenette whose dart to first base beat the runner to preserve the 2-1 lead. Pallante's perfect ninth inning wrapped up the 2-1 win and his second save of the season.

The Anteater offense went through Keston Hiura and Mikey Duarte each with two hits. Hiura and Coss had the RBI while Duarte and Evan Cassolato each scored a run. UC Davis got a two-out double from Caleb Van Blake scoring Alex Aguiar as their only tally. Cameron Olson had the Aggies' lone two-hit game.

Raymond continued his conference dominance lowering his Big West ERA to 2.68. The win was his second conference win and upped his season record to 5-5. Razo fell to 5-4 despite the 123-pitch effort walking two and punching out six.

UCI's win pulls them closer to UC Davis now a game back in the Big West standings. The Anteaters can pull even Friday as the squads play again at 6:30 p.m.