HOUSTON, Tex. --- No. 25 UC Irvine put the clamps on the Rice offense Saturday afternoon posting a 7-0 victory to take the series at Reckling Park.
Bald is Beautiful
The Anteater offense started the day in the third inning with its shortstop,
Christian Koss, giving everyone a new look. The junior chopped off all his hair between last night's contest and today, and it sparked his fire as his second hit of the day landed well beyond the left field wall to put UCI (4-2) up 2-0.
Don't Mess with Brooks
Brendan Brooks is still really feeling the Texas air as he added to Koss' power inning with a massive blast over the 400-foot sign in center field for a solo home run to make it 3-0 Anteaters in the third.
Rolling in the Sixth
The 'Eaters got back to it with the bats in the sixth inning putting a pair of runners on via walks.
Jake Palmer snuck a single up the middle with two outs scoring
Andre Antone for the first run.
Mike Peabody and Palmer made it to second and third from some smart baserunning, and helped bring home another run on a wild pitch.
Brubaker's Dozen
Junior starter
Tanner Brubaker had it working today allowing just three hits for the second time this season allowing one baserunner to reach third all day stranding him with a strikeout in the sixth. After 87 pitches, he completed his day shutting out the Rice Owls (2-5) before giving way to the bullpen.
Final Score: No. 25 UC Irvine 7, Rice 0
Christian Koss paced the offense with three hits including the HR. He and Palmer each drove home two on the afternoon. Antone reached in all four plate appearances twice recording hits and scoring twice. Peabody also scored twice, and Brooks added a home run for his third in the last two games. Braden Comeaux had two of the four Rice hits.
Pitchers of Record
Brubaker earned his first win as an Anteater combining with
Ryan Johnston and
John Vergara on a four-hitter and posting the first shutout for UCI since April 8 of last season at Long Beach State. Rice starter Evan Kravetz labored lasting four innings allowing three runs and picking up six strikeouts while taking on the loss.
Hear from Tanner Brubaker
When asked the difference between his 3-hit performance against Washington to his 2-hit effort today against Rice - "I think today it was just the defense taking better care of the ball. We turned two double plays which were huge and allowed me to go further than the last start."
When asked about any turning point in the game - "I had a runner on second in the second inning, and we got that final out when things were a little tense, and from that point on I really cruised. Then the next inning we got those runs and I got more comfortable and it really worked out."
Next Up
UC Irvine and Rice match up for a final time Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Central Time at Reckling Park. The 'Eaters have a chance for a sweep with sophomore
Trenton Denholm on the mound, and will put UCI at the heart of its eight-game road trip following the game.
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