IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine's first deficit in a few games caught the offense off guard as St. John's stole a win Saturday night in Anteater Ballpark, 4-3.

Manufacturing Runs
UC Irvine (8-4) got the leadoff runner on in the second only to have them erased on a double play, but a two-out walk gave UCI life and it would use it to its full advantage. Mikey Filia turned his walk into a stolen base and take third base after catcher Wyatt Mascarella's throw went into center field. Mike Peabody would single him home on the next pitch for the 1-0 lead, and then follow Filia's lead with a stolen base and on to third on another errant through. The 'Eaters could not get Peabody home holding onto the 1-0 lead.

Tripped Up
Tanner Brubaker avoided any real trouble, but became his own worst enemy in the third inning. The Red Storm got runners to second and third, but Brubaker quickly got two outs needing a pitch to get out of the inning. Brubaker tripped on a delivery and balked bringing home a run to tie things at 1-1. The run would end a string of 21 consecutive innings without allowing a run.

Back-and-Forth
Both sides would answer each other in the four consecutive half innings with runs. UCI brought home a pair in the bottom of the third to take the lead back after a Jacob Castro sac fly with the bases loaded and a Mikey Filia two-out RBI single made it 3-1 Anteaters. St. John's came back with a two-out hit of their own from Ryan Hogan to close it back to 3-2 in the top of the fourth.

The Crushing Blow
Tanner Brubaker's night ended in the seventh inning after two singles led off the inning, a sac bunt, and a strike out put runners on second and third. Dylan Riddle entered with two out and St. John's countered with pinch-hitter Mitchell Henshaw, and St. John's would win the chess match as Henshaw drove a ball through the middle scoring two to put St. John's in front for the first time this season, 4-3.

Final Score: St. John's 4, No. 24 UC Irvine 3
Peter Abinanti had three hits and a run in addition to Ryan Hogan's two hits and an RBI and Henshaw's two RBIs to tie up the series, 1-1. UCI mustered four hits, but stole three bases and walked eight times in a game that saw no extra-base hits. Jake Palmer reached three times for the Anteaters and Mikey Filia reached twice adding an RBI and a run scored

Pitchers of Record
Tanner Brubaker took the loss, his first as an Anteater, despite a career high eight strikeouts. Sam Lara scored the victory from a scoreless inning of relief. Gavin Hollowell pitched 2.2 hitless innings to capture the save. Red Storm starter Sean Mooney lasted just five innings allowing two earned runs and walking six upping his pitch total to 101.

Next Up
The series comes to a head on Sunday, March 10, with a 1:00 p.m. start. Trenton Denholm takes the mound with 8.2 consecutive hitless inning against highly-touted newcomer for St. John's, Jeff Belge.