IRVINE, Calif. --- UCI struck for a pair of eighth-inning runs to take a lead over Gonzaga, but the Bulldogs punched back with three 9th-inning runs to steal a 5-3 win from the 'Eaters Sunday afternoon in Anteater Ballpark.

Nick Anderson came on for his second save of the season after his RBI double in the bottom of the eighth gave UCI (5-2) the 3-2 lead. The Bulldogs (2-4) hung tough taking some close walks to start the threat before a Daniel Fredrickson sac fly tied things, and Troy Johnston came through with a bases-loaded single to RF plating the two deciding runs in the 5-3 Gonzaga win.

UCI took the early lead scoring on a 2-out Brendan Brooks flare to RF that would have scored two, but a solid throw from Fredrickson stopped Jacob Castro at the plate. The inning before, Konnor Zickefoose made the final out from RF on a play at the plate as well.

The Zags would answer in the third with an RBI single from Fredrickson, and take their first lead of the series in the fifth inning from a Johnston RBI single.

The 'Eaters came alive in the eighth inning after freshman starter Alek Jacob left after six innings allowing just four hits and one run. Jake Palmer's leadoff single came around on consecutive doubles from Zickefoose and Anderson.

Anderson went from getting the game-winning hit and finishing with the save to drawing the loss after allowing three runs in 2/3 of an inning. Starter Trenton Denholm worked four innings allowing four hits, a run, a walk, and three strikeouts.

The loss snaps UCI's three game winning streak, but for the second weekend in a row, they take home the series. UCI has another home matchup Tuesday night against San Diego State starting at 6:30 p.m. before consecutive weeks on the road.