DAVIS, Calif. --- The final game of legendary head coach
Mike Gillespie's 31 season did not have a fairytale ending as UC Irvine came up short Saturday afternoon to UC Davis losing 4-2 in Dobbins Stadium.
For a second straight game, UCI (32-24, 13-11) took the early lead, this time from a charge off the bat of Gillespie's grandson,
Cole Kreuter. launching a home run well out to left field for his eighth of the season making it a 1-0 Anteater edge.
UC Davis (18-35, 9-15) snapped back in the fourth inning with a two-run homer of its own from senior Ryan Hooper grabbing the lead at 2-1. The Aggies extended its lead to 3-1 the next inning after Tanner Murray blasted an RBI double to put the 'Eaters down a pair.
UCI reeled Davis back in with three straight hits to start the seventh, first knocking starter Chris Brown out, and then scoring a run on the second hit, a pinch-hit single from
Jacob Castro. The Anteaters built a real threat with runners on second and third with one out, but closer Connor Loar struck out
Brendan Brooks and then got a Gold Glove-caliber play in the hole at shortstop by Tanner Murray with a jump throw to nail
Ryan Fitzpatrick at first base to preserve the lead.
UCI came right back in the eighth inning getting runners on from a
Konnor Zickefoose single and walk to
Nick Anderson to bring Castro up again. He hammered an 0-1 pitch deep and gone, but a few feet foul. Loar got him swinging on the next pitch to douse the Anteater chance.
Davis took advantage of four eighth inning walks to score an insurance run, and Loar did the rest retiring the Anteaters in order to close the game and season, 4-2.
Loar earned his fourth save of the season and second of the series with three scoreless innings. Chris Brown scored the win scattering seven hits pitching into the seventh with just one run allowed. Anteater starter
Taylor Rashi went 4.2 innings allowing three runs and dropped to 3-4 on the season.
Nick Anderson was charged with the fourth run following 2.1 innings of spotless relief.
Kreuter's home run tied him for the team lead on the year, and came on his 200th career hit. Four Anteaters had multi-hit days including Anderson who also scored a run and walked.
The loss gives UC Irvine a final record of 32-24 along with a 13-11 conference total which sets them in a tied for third place to end the 2018 campaign.
Hall of Fame head coach ends his 31-year Division I coaching career with 1,156 wins against 720 losses and two ties, totaling 1,588 wins all-time when adding his 16 years on the junior college level.
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