photo credit to Steve Coburn

IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine battled from a large early deficit, coming within a run, before falling to UC Davis, 11-9, Saturday afternoon at Anteater Ballpark, but the story was Keston Hiura's five-hit day.

Hiura had an RBI single in the first inning, single in the third and fifth, hit a two-run double in the sixth, and singled once more in the seventh to raise his season average to .442 breaking Tom Spence's 46-year mark of .403 set in 1971. Hiura also finished the regular season as the nation's top hitter and on-base percentage leader with a .567 mark.

The game was owned by UC Davis (21-30, 10-14) for the most part. Despite allowing two UC Irvine runs in the first inning, the Aggies knocked Cole Spear around for four runs in the second and two in the third to jump ahead, 6-2.

The 'Eaters got single runs in the fourth and fifth highlighted by Mikey Duarte's second career home run to close the gap to 7-4 before the Aggie homered back in the top half of the inning to stretch the lead back to 10-4.

UCI (23-33, 9-15) returned fire with a five-run rally in the bottom of the sixth before a double play ball, one of five hit into by the Anteaters, stopped the rally one run short at 10-9. The offense never recovered finishing with nine runs and the Aggies took the 11-9 win.

Of the Anteaters' five double plays, four were hit into by Parker Coss setting a new program record. Hiura in quite possibly his last game as an 'Eaters, posted his second career five-hit game adding two RBI, three runs scored, and his 24th double of the year to tie Taylor Holiday for the UCI single season mark.

Duarte's homer joined a 3-for-5 day with two RBI and three runs scored in his senior day along with two-hit days from Evan Cassolato, who scored twice, and Alex Guenette, who had a hit and a run scored and threw out three attempted basestealers to finish the year with a Big West-leading 22.

Michael Martin pitched a scoreless ninth in his final game striking out a batter, one of 11 on the day for the staff.

Blake Peters scored the win for UC Davis with two scoreless innings of relief. Robert Garcia walked five and allowed four to score in 4.2 innings as the starter.

The season finishes with UCI at a 23-33 mark, including a 9-15 record in Big West Conference games.