IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine turned on its refurbished scoreboard and got all the lights working with a 10-run display to beat UC Santa Barbara, 10-2, Friday night in Anteater Ballpark.

UC Santa Barbara (15-14-1, 2-2) actually got the scoring going as Marcos Castanon's two-out triple brought home Sam Cohen to put the Gauchos up, 1-0, in the second inning.

The Anteaters (19-13, 4-3) answered back with an RBI tapper from Christian Koss in his first game back from injury, and a single from Brendan Brooks flipped over the infield put UCI up, 2-1 in the third inning. Ryan Fitzpatrick really put a stamp on the game launching a three-run homer to bust out for a five-run frame to go up, 5-1.

The 'Eaters added to the lead with Christian Koss chiming in again with a well-placed double down the line, and Jake Palmer slapped an RBI single into center to make it a 7-1 game.

Meanwhile, Andre Pallante went about his business regrouping after the early run allowed to give up just three hits in his seven innings of work all the while picking up 10 strikeouts to slow the Gaucho offense

The 'Eaters added three more as an answer to UCSB's run in the top half of the eighth as Cole Kreuter lifted a solo homer to start the inning, and another infield single and a bases loaded walk gave the 'Eaters the 10-2 victory in front of the Mayor of Irvine and the school's Chancellor.

Pallante runs his record to 5-0 on the season as his ERA bumped up a tick from 1.16 to 1.19. The 10 strikeouts marked the third time all season he's reached 10 as he threw a total of 109 pitches. Sean Sparling picked up the slack in the final two innings striking out two and allowing a run.

The Anteaters jumped on freshman lefty for UCSB Jack Dashwood racking 10 hits and seven runs off him in his 3.1 innings. Two of UCSB's six hits went for triples that both factored into their scoring with Clay Fisher scoring after one and Castanon driving a run home off one.

Ryan Fitzpatrick finished with four RBI and reached base four times. The 7-8-9 hitters of Matt Reitano, Konnor Zickefoose, and Christian Koss each finished the night 3-for-4 and each scored twice. Koss added a pair of RBI in his first game since his injury over a week ago and even made the final out at shortstop.

UCI gains a leg up in the series as the two squads return Saturday at 2:00 p.m. for the second game of the series that will also be broadcasted on ESPN3.