NORTHRIDGE, Calif. --- UC Irvine started its series at CSUN with a 4-2 win Friday afternoon at Matador Field behind
Christian Koss' big offensive day and a home run-saving catch late.
The sophomore shortstop for the Anteaters (22-14, 6-4) accounted for all the offense on the day starting in the third inning. He led off the inning with a chopped single over the drawn in third baseman, but was stuck on first until there were two outs in the innings.
Ryan Fitzpatrick would wrap his second double of the game bringing Koss around from first to tie things at 1-1.
CSUN (17-20, 5-5) clapped back the next inning with a solo HR from the first batter of the frame, Alvaro Rubalcaba, to grab the lead back, 2-1. It was a repeat of the second inning when Nolan Bumstead homered to start the inning and scoring for a 1-0 lead.
Koss answered in the third coming up with two on and two out clubbing a home run way out to left field for the first of his career to take the 4-2 lead.
The offense would dry up after that as starters
Andre Pallante and Walker Armstrong traded blows through the middle innings holding the score steady at 4-2. Pallante pitched into the eighth and was looking for the final out as Bumstead returned to the plate. He launched one high and deep to left destined for his second homer of the game, but
Brendan Brooks leapt and took the home run away ending the inning and keeping the lead at 4-2.
Jordan Bocko closed up shop in the ninth for his fifth save of the season and a 4-2 victory, the team's eighth in 10 April contests.
Pallante earned his sixth win of the season striking out a season-low four batters over eight innings. Armstrong matched him going 7.2 innings racking up seven strikeouts.
Koss put up his three RBI and scored twice while getting three hits. Fitzpatrick joined him with three hits and his RBI. CSUN's offense was limited to seven hits with no hitters recording multiple hits.
The series turns to Saturday, April 21, with a 1:00 p.m.start at Matador Field.
