LOS ANGELES, Calif. --- No. 25 UC Irvine fell again in a midweek matchup on the road losing to Loyola Marymount, 7-3, Tuesday night in Page Stadium.

Lion's Share
LMU (5-3) made the first marks in the game loading the bases in each of the first two innings. Anteater starter Alonzo Garcia made it through the first relatively unscathed allowing a single run on a sac fly, but couldn't make it out of the second allowing another sac fly and a bloop single to score runs and put the Anteaters (5-3) in a 3-0 hole.

Missed Opportunities
UC Irvine nearly tied things up in the second inning getting a clutch two-out double to left field from Konnor Zickefoose. Matt Reitano followed with a single lashed into left field, but Zickefoose was thrown out at the plate to end the inning. The Anteaters managed a run across in the third inning to close the gap to 3-1 on Brandon Lewis' RBI double, but as the 'Eaters loaded the bases, they were turned away from any more damage keeping it a 3-1 ballgame through three innings.

The Sixth Inning
UCI's bullpen bent but did not break under Michael Frias (2.1 IP, H, BB) and John Vergara (IP, 2 H, 3 K) as LMU loaded the bases four times in the first six innings. The Lions finally found their stroke in the sixth, however, after Dylan Riddle loaded the bases. With a run home in the inning, Trevin Esquerra snuck a two-hopper inside the bag at third base to clear the bases with a double and stretching LMU's lead to 7-1

Late Moments
The Anteater bullpen settled down with scoreless eighth and ninth innings from Jordan Bocko and Taylor Rashi. The offense gave it a last gasp effort with two outs in the ninth inning as Jake Palmer scored Reitano with a single and Christian Koss tripled Palmer home all off LMU closer Matt Voelker. He would bounce back to get the final out on a strikeout to finish the game off.

Final Score: Loyola Marymount 7, No. 25 UC Irvine 3
Esquerra had three RBIs to go wit hhis two hits while Lion leadoff hitter Nick Sogard was productive in each plate appearance finishing 3-for-3 with an RBI, run scored, and a stolen base. UCI's best night came from Jake Palmer would had two hits, scored once, drove in a run, and stole a base. Koss also stole a base for his team-best fourth of the season along with two hits and an RBI. Brandon Lewis extended his hit streak to five games with an RBI double.

Pitchers of Record
Alonzo Garcia has now accounted for three of the eight Anteater decision falling to 1-2 after three runs allowed in 1.2 innings pitched. Alexander Burge was the recipient of the LMU win going 1.1 scoreless innings of relief.

Next Up
The 'Eaters travel back to the Midwest to face Missouri State starting Friday, March 1 for a three-game set. The trip will complete UCI's longest stretch away from home this season at eight games. The same pitching rotation of Andre Pallante, Tanner Brubaker, and Trenton Denholm are slated to take the mound.