SAN DIEGO, Calif. --- Matt Reitano mashed the game-winning home run to give UC Irvine the win in 11 innings, 2-1, Tuesday night against San Diego at Fowler Park.
 
Reitano, a native of San Diego, got the start at catcher, and as the game moved into extra innings, Reitano found himself in left field for the first time in his career. He stepped up to lead off the 11^th inning, and with a full count, pelted a shot high and hard over the left-center fence to put UC Irvine (15-12, 1-2) back in front 2-1.
 
The 'Eaters had the first lead all the way back in the first inning after getting the first three hitters on base and starting pitcher Nick Anderson bopping a fly ball to CF for the sac fly, his fourth of the year, to put UCI up 1-0. The Anteater offense would continue to get runners on, but struggled to get them home as the pitching staff held the one-run lead up through seven innings.
 
The slim advantage would finally cave in the eighth as Jay Schuyler swatted a two-out pitch high and out down the left field line to finally tie the game, 1-1.
 
The 'Eaters held it together behind Evan McMillin pitching through a jam in the ninth inning, and handing it over to Cole Spear in the 11^th to nail down his first career save in the 2-1 victory.
 
McMillin recorded his first career win going two scoreless innings as part of a stable of Anteater arms that performed well on the evening. Jordan Bocko had a season high five strikeouts through three innings aside from the HR blemish. Sean Sparling and Alonzo Garcia each fired scoreless relief after starter Nick Anderson did the same over his two innings. Anderson became the first Anteater pitcher to start on the mound and crack the lineup since the program returned in 2002, and for a while was the savior with his RBI and added a base hit in the 10^th.
 
Cole Kreuter, who scored the opening run, had three hits on the evening from the leadoff spot. Ryan Fitzpatrick added to his on-base streak with a single while Reitano had multiple hits on the evening including his second career home run.
 
The 'Eaters improve to 5-0 on the season in midweek contests winning three of them by a single run now, and also are 3-0 in extra inning games reaching the 11^th inning twice now.
 
The Anteaters and Toreros have now played consecutive extra-inning affairs after USD's win in 14 innings in 2017 at Anteater Ballpark.
 
UC Irvine's road week continues Friday Apr. 6 with the start of a weekend series at Long Beach State against the Dirtbags in Big West play