IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine fell into an early hole, but a big push through the middle innings helped the 'Eaters to its sixth straight win downing San Diego, 10-7, Tuesday night in Anteater Ballpark.
The visiting Toreros (18-23, 7-11) knocked the Anteaters (25-14, 8-4) around a little early scoring on a wild pitch in the first inning, and adding three more in the third on an error followed by a two-run double all before UCI had even registered a hit. Anteater starter
Jake Lachemann lasted just over two innings letting in four runs, three earned.
USD starter Nigel Ward stymied UCI early, but gave way to reliever Nick Sprengel in the third, and the Anteaters pounced.
The 'Eaters would the load the bases on an infield single, walk, and hit by pitch leading to
Nick Anderson's conference-leading seventh sac fly to start the scoring.
Konnor Zickefoose shot a single through the middle for the second Anteater run, and a third would come across later on a passed ball making it 4-3 with two outs.
Parker Coss' walk was the final straw for Sprengel who was lifted for Justin Friedman looking to get USD through this bases loaded jam, but
Matt Reitano had other plans.
The junior catcher placed a double into the left field corner to clear the bases and give UCI the lead on a three-run double to make it 6-4. The six-run inning was added onto by in the fourth by another Zickefoose RBI single, and then again from Zickefoose in the sixth tripling with two outs and then scoring on
Cole Kreuter's single for nine consecutive Anteater tallies to go up 9-4.
Meanwhile,
Cole Spear was holding USD's offense at bay as he spun three scoreless innings of relief. The rest of the bullpen bent but did not break allowing single runs to the Toreros in the seventh, eighth, and ninth, but
Jordan Bocko closed the door in the ninth to preserve UCI's unbeaten midweek streak with a 10-7 victory.
The Anteaters are now 8-0 on the year in midweek contests, and also added on their winning streak running it up to six games in a row. Spear scored the victory, his second on the campaign, while Sprengel dropped to 1-4 after allowing six runs in 0.2 innings.
Zickefoose and Reitano cleaned up with three RBIs each, and Zickefoose also led the way with three hits joined by
Jake Palmer,
Ryan Johnston, and
Ryan Fitzpatrick who each also had multiple-hit efforts.
USD did score in five frames on the evening behind Jay Schuyler's 3-for-3 effort driving home three of his own and also drawing a pair of walks. Paul Kunst reached base three times and scored on each while Trevor Omahen made his collegiate debut at third base and registered hits in his first two career at-bats scoring once.
The win also marked the third straight game UCI has finished with the same amount of hits as its opponent, and its also the fourth straight game where UCI's opponent has been the first to score with the 'Eaters coming back to win each of them.
Next up will be another big test as the other conference leader, Cal State Fullerton, visits Anteater Ballpark starting Friday, April 27, with the top spot in the conference on the line and the Anteaters seeking their first ever home series win over the Titans.
