IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine fought back after spotting Nevada a three-run lead on the heels of game-winning performances from players making their debut to swipe a 4-3 win from Nevada Saturday afternoon in Anteater Ballpark.
The winning shot came in the eighth inning as pinch-hitter
Jacob Castro stepped up with two outs to face new Nevada (0-2) pitcher Austin Dick. Castro belted the first pitch he saw high off the right field wall scoring
Jake Hazard from third base to put UCI (2-0) on top for the first time in the game, 4-3.
Nick Anderson would set down the bat after going 1-for-4 on the day and hop on the mound for the save. The Wolf Pack put runners on second and third, but Anderson shut the door with a strikeout to close the game for his first save as an Anteater.
The 'Eaters scored the final four runs after falling behind 3-0 in the second inning. A first-inning RBI single followed by a pair of two-out hits in the second following a dropped fly ball in left field gave Nevada the lead.
Louis Raymond held Nevada in check otherwise striking out five through four innings, and gave way to junior transfer
Taylor Rashi making his Anteater debut. Rashi retired his first eight batters, but sailed along allowing two baserunners in four innings and adding four strikeouts.
The offense broke through in the third after leaving multiple runners on in the first two innings.
Ryan Fitzpatrick found a hole to drive home
Christian Koss, and
Parker Coss followed with a sac fly helped by a slick slide from
Konnor Zickefoose to close the gap to 3-2 in the third inning.
UCI tied things up in the sixth with another sac fly as freshman
Brendan Brooks made his collegiate debut in grand fashion knotting things at 3-3. The winning run was set up by a one-out double to right center from
Ryan Fitzpatrick. Hazard would pinch-run, advancing to third on a slow chopper, and scoring on Castro's double.
UCI takes the opening series looking to complete the sweep on Sunday in Anteater Ballpark at 1:00 p.m. Freshman
Trenton Denholm will make the start for the 'Eaters against a Nevada starter yet to be determined.
NOTES: Another Anteater debut came from
Mike Peabody, as a defensive replacement in RF in the ninth inning...dating back to last season,
Ryan Fitzpatrick has now reached base in 10 straight games...UC Irvine has scored 5 of their 7 runs this season in the 3rd inning...no team has committed an error through the first two games
