IRVINE, Calif. --- No. 21 UC Irvine won in their final at-bat thanks to a single and an error for a 4-3 victory over CSUN Friday night at Anteater Ballpark.

Ireland Golden
The Anteaters (24-9, 7-4) got on the board first in the second inning with some clutch hitting from Sam Ireland. Christian Koss' double with two outs got things going, and after a Griffin Mazur walk, Ireland split the outfielders for a double scoring both runners for a 2-0 UCI lead after two.

Fifth-Inning Flourish
Both teams found their bats in the fifth starting with CSUN (16-21, 4-7) finally getting a piece of starter Tanner Brubaker. Andrew Lucas' leadoff triple was the first dent as he was brought home on Austin Elder's RBI single. The Matadors would knot the game up with a two-out single from Brandon Bohning to score Edler and tie it at 2-2.

The 'Eaters countered with a run to take the lead back in the bottom half. Mazur started the inning reaching on an error, but stayed on first after outs were made by Ireland and Jake Palmer. Brandon Lewis came through scorching a ball through the shift to left field, and Matador left fielder Denzel Clarke misplayed it allowing Mazur to circle the bases and make it 3-2.

Eighth-Inning Agony
After CSUN tied things back up 3-3 on a seventh-inning solo home run by Lucas, the 'Eaters charged back to try and retake the lead beginning the eighth inning with a Mike Peabody single and Mikey Filia double. CSUN countered with close Blake Schriever coming on, but he would walk the first man he faced loading the bases still with nobody out. Schriever found his groove striking out the next three Anteaters and halting the opportunity as the game headed to the ninth tied 3-3

The Walkoff
The Anteaters got an unexpected infield single from Konnor Zickefoose to start their ninth inning off who was promptly pinch-run for by Matt Reitano. Lewis struck out for the inning's first out bringing up Adrian Damla. Damla shot a base hit through the right side sending Reitano from first to third, but right fielder Andrew Lucas, for all his offense keeping CSUN in the game, kicked the grounder, and Reitano would kick it into gear and score on a head-first slide for the winning run

Final Score: No. 21 UC Irvine 4, CSUN 3
The hero, Adrian Damla, finished 1-for-4, and did not record the RBI on the winner as did Lewis on his run-scoring hit. Two of the Anteater runs were unearned as CSUN made four errors on the night. Mazur scored twice despite an 0-for-3 night. Koss and Lewis each had two-hit nights while Ireland had UCI's two RBIs. Lucas carried CSUN with a triple and homer scoring twice. The walkoff was UCI's first of the season and first since senior day 2018 when Mikey Filia's single ended the game

Pitchers of Record
Both starters were effective despite not figuring into the decision. Tanner Brubaker worked seven inning allowing three runs, three walks, and four hits in addition to four strikeouts putting his season ERA at 2.62. Isaiah Nunez was lifted after 5.2 innings allowing six hits and three runs, two earned. He also walked two hitters after entering the game with seven walks on the entire season. Taylor Rashi earned the victory with two scoreless innings of relief allowing a single hit along with three strikeouts. Blake Schriever for his effort was saddled with the loss allowing just an unearned run on two hits and a walk. All four outs he recorded were via strikeout

Next Up
The teams finish the series Saturday afternoon, April 20, at 1:00 p.m. with Trenton Denholm (6-1, 1.87) going up against freshman Blake Sodersten (1-2, 4.84)