SANTA BARBARA, Calif. --- No. 16 UC Irvine fell just short of salvaging the weekend series falling 3-2 Sunday afternoon in Caesar Uyesaka Stadium to No. 19 UC Santa Barbara.

Palmer Power
The sides battled through the opening innings without any runs until Jake Palmer opened up the third inning with a boom. The sophomore belted a ball deep to right field and out for his first career home run putting the Anteaters up, 1-0, in the third inning.

Gaucho Ambush
Trenton Denholm had sailed along through four innings allowing a single baserunner on a walk before Armani Smith double to lead off the fifth inning. The UCSB (27-5, 5-1) bats turned on for an inning as McClain O'Connor tripled to tie the game, he came around on a Kyle Johnson single, and then another triple off the bat of Jason Willow punctuated a three-spot for the Gauchos who now led, 3-1, in the fifth.

'Eater Response
UC Irvine (21-9, 5-4) quickly doused the hot Gauchos with a run in the sixth inning. Brandon Lewis walked with one out and continued on to third after Adrian Damla singled to set up Mike Peabody. His groundball brought Lewis home to make it 3-2, UCSB, but reliever Michael McGreevy was summoned to get the final out and strand the tying run at second base.

Last Gasp
The 'Eaters were up against it trailing to start the ninth and UCSB closer Chris Lincoln on the mound. He started off with a walk to Christian Koss and a soft single from John Jensen putting a pair of runs on with nobody out. Matt Reitano sacrificed the runners into scoring position still with one out. Sam Ireland, following a two-hit day, stepped up, but was a strikeouts victim looking. After an intentional walk to Jake Palmer, Lincoln faced a bases loaded situation, but was able to close out the game on a strikeout of Mikey Filia to complete the sweep.

Final Score: No. 19 UC Santa Barbara 3, No. 16 UC Irvine 2
Palmer had a two-hit day along with Ireland and reached base four times adding a pair of walks to his first career home run as the leadoff DH. Lewis walked twice and scored the other Anteater run. Griffin Mazur also had a hit to make seven for UCI on the day. Johnson had the only two-hit day for UCSB who was caught stealing as well.

Pitchers of Record
Trenton Denholm's one rough inning was enough to outfit him with his first loss of the year now 6-1. He struck out seven in six innings allowing five hits and walking two. Taylor Rashi struck out two in two scoreless innings despite allowing three hits. Rodney Boone stayed unbeaten for UCSB allowing two runs in 5.2 innings issuing a walk with six strikeouts of his own. McGreevy and Lincoln each had two walks and two strikeouts in the 3.1 innings between them of shutout baseball resulting in Lincoln's eighth save.

Next Up
UC Irvine's longest losing streak of the season was extended now at four games as it falls victim to its first weekend series loss and sweep of the year. The Anteaters are back home next week for four games in five days starting Tuesday night at 6:00 p.m. with a visit from San Diego State fresh off a series win at Cal State Fullerton. The weekend series starts Thursday night at 6:00 p.m. as the 'Eaters welcome CSUN on Easter weekend. The series finishes out Friday night with game two at 6:00 p.m. and the finale Saturday, April 20, at 1:00 p.m. before a Sunday off day for Easter