LONG BEACH, Calif. --- UC Irvine snagged the spotlight back from its Black and Blue rival, Long Beach State with an 8-0 Sunday win at Blair Field.

The 'Eaters (17-13, 3-3) got things going on defense early. Brendan Brooks laid out full extension to make a a diving play to save xtra bases and throw across the diamond to make the out and keep the game scoreless early. UCI answered manufacturing a run as Adrian Damla chopped a potential double play ball to second, but he beat the row to first to keep the inning alive and score a run, and Cole Kreuter never stopped running to score from second and make it a 2-0 UCI lead in the second.

Long Beach State (12-20, 1-2) threatened to get the runs back putting runners at the corners with nobody out and put down a safety squeeze. Ryan Fitzpatrick showed his defensive skills pouncing on the bunt and firing to third to get the runner retreating back. Starter Nick Anderson capitalized on the play to get through the inning with the 2-0 lead intact.

The defense stood tall all day making play after play as the combo of Anderson-Cole Spear-Jordan Bocko only punched out four Dirtbags on the afternoon scattering seven hits for the team's third shutout of the season.

The offense allowed them to breathe a little easier starting in the sixth inning with a booming Cole Kreuter double. Parker Coss sacrificed him over, and Matt Reitano lined a single to score him and start the flow of runs in the inning. Konnor Zickefoose matched Kreuter with a double in the alley to score Reitano. A bases loaded HBP to Brooks and an opposite-field sac fly by Fitzpatrick completed the four-run frame pushing the lead to 6-0.

The Anteaters put a cherry on top with a Fitzpatrick solo HR and Kreuter RBI single scoring an unearned run raising the advantage to 8-0 before Bocko completed the masterpiece earning the save from 3.1 shutout innings.

The win for the 'Eaters puts them back at .500 in Big West play at 3-3. It also marks the team's first series win since February's consecutive series wins over Nevada and Portland. The staff allowed just one earned run on the weekend and four runs total on the week to earn the 3-1 overall record. Spear took home the win going 3.1 innings, his first of the season.

Zickefoose powered the offense from the bottom of the order going 3-for-3 with two doubles, an RBI, and a walk. Kreuter joined as the only 'Eaters with multiple hits and the only player with to score twice. Damla and Fitzpatrick each drove in a pair.

UC Irvine returns to San Diego for its midweek contest on Tuesday taking on the Aztecs, Apr. 10, at 6:00 p.m. The next weekend series will take place at UC Irvine hosting UC Santa Barbara, April 13-15, starting with a 6:30 p.m. start