IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine used the force Friday night in Anteater Ballpark coming back with two seventh-inning runs to win, 2-1, against visiting Oregon.

Starters Andre Pallante and Kenyon Yovan dueled on the mound each striking out nine over seven innings allowing solo home runs to lock the game up at 1-1.

The 'Eaters (26-18, 8-7) got its solo HR to start the seventh followed by a walk to Ryan Fitzpatrick and Nick Anderson sacrifice to put him in position. Yovan got a crucial second out, and the 'Eaters would counter with pinch-hitter Adrian Damla who would promptly single through the right side and bring home Fitzpatrick hustling from second base for the go-ahead and deciding run.

The Anteater bullpen of Dylan Riddle and Sean Sparling locked down the Ducks (21-22, 8-13) the rest of the way retiring six of the final seven hitters to preserve the lead and victory, 2-1.

Pallante got back on the winning track with his seventh of the season tossing his 11th quality start in 12 tries. His 112 pitches on the night were a new career high eclipsing his old high of 111 set in his win vs. Gonzaga. Sparling picked up his first save since his sophomore season of 2015, the third save of his career. Yovan drew the loss for Oregon falling to 4-3.

No hitters in the game had multiple hits. Spencer Steer belted his second homer of the season in the third and was the only Duck to reach twice from the HR and an error. Ryan Fitzpatrick double, walked, and scored as one of three 'Eaters to reach twice along with Christian Koss (single, fielder's choice) and Mikey Filia (walk, single). Konnor Zickefoose blasted his fourth HR of the year to right center to tie things up to start the seventh.

The win for head coach Mike Gillespie was his 1,150th in his 31-year Division I career, 387 of which have come at UC Irvine. The 'Eaters go for his next win on Saturday, May 5 with a 2:00 p.m. start in Anteater Ballpark