LONG BEACH, Calif. --- UC Irvine erased a costly first inning to slide in the game-winning run in the ninth on a sac fly to take the series opener Friday night over Long Beach State, 3-2, at Blair Field.

The 'Eaters (16-12, 2-2) dug a first inning hole against ace Zak Baayoung allowing a pair of runs to the Dirtbags (11-19, 0-1) from a couple errors. The Anteater offense chipped away at the Dirtbags until the sixth inning. An infield single for Ryan Fitzpatrick, extending his on-base streak to 36 games, followed by an opposite-field double from Nick Anderson put two runners in scoring position with nobody out. Parker Coss's sacrifice fly would cut the deficit in half, and a single up the middle scoring Anderson all the way from second to tie it up, 2-2.

The score held until the ninth when Jake Palmer was called upon to pinch-hit and single into left field. A walk and a clutch two-strike sac bunt from Griffin Mazur led to an intentional walk loading the bases for a battle between Cole Kreuter and closer Chris Rivera. Kreuter hooked a high fly down the left field line caught by the charging Tristan Mercadel as he made the catch at the foul line and fired to catch the tagging Palmer, but the throw was up the line allowing Palmer to slide in and take the 3-2 lead.

Andre Pallante started the bottom of the ninth for the firsr time in his career, but a leadoff single would end his night in exchange for Nick Anderson. After a sac bunt, Anderson would induce a high flyout and a chopper to third to close out the victory, 3-2.

The 'Eaters return to .5-- in conference play now 2-2, and jump to 16-12 ioverall. Pallante stays undefeated now at 4-0 after relenting just two unearend runs and no walks in his 8+ innings of work. Anderson picked up his second save and reached three of his four times on the night with two walks and the game-tying run.

Baayoun went six innings striking out two and allowing just two runs on eight hits. Eli Villalobos drew his second loss of the season despite 2.1 innings of work and his only run let in on Chris Rivera's watch.

Brendan Brooks led the 'Eaters with two hits. RBIs came home from Reitano, Parker Coss, and Kreuter while Kreuter and Coss came together on two sparkling double plays on hit-and-runs from LBSU as Coss, who took over at shortstop midway through the Tuesday game, made his first career start at the position.

The series continues Saturday, Apr. 7 with a 2:00 p.m. start between junior transfers Taylor Rashi and Clayton Andrews from Long Beach State.