FRESNO, Calif. --- UC Irvine baseball made a big late-game push to come from behind and down Fresno State, 12-6, Saturday afternoon at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.

Stingy Starters
Again, the starting pitching was the story early on with a pair of hits and a handful of baserunners between UCI's Peter Van Loon and Fresno State's Oscar Carvajal through three scoreless innings.

The Bulldogs got back to their home run-hitting ways from a three-run blast by Zach Presno to vault FS to a 3-0 lead after four innings.

Even Strength
The Anteaters (1-1) found some runs in the very next inning as Jake Palmer doubled home Jacob Castro to make it a 3-1 deficit. Castro returned the favor in the sixth doubling home a pair to tie it up at 3-3.

Fresno State (1-1) snagged the lead back pushing Van Loon out of the game and finding some run-scoring singles to go back up, 5-3. The Anteaters worked it back even in the seventh on Adrian Damla and Konnor Zickefoose RBIs, and then with two outs, clutch singles by Jake Cosgrove and Castro put UCI over the top finally with the 7-5 lead.

Closing It Out
The Bulldogs didn't completely disappear as Presno reemerged with his second HR of the game to close the game back to 7-6, but the Anteater bats made sure they secured their first win of the season with an eighth-inning run on Damla's fourth hit of the game, and Riley Kasper shut the door with a long, three-run home run to center for the 12-6 final.

Final Score: UC Irvine 12, Fresno State 6
Multiple Anteaters had big offensive days led by Damla going 4-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Palmer, Kasper, and Castro each had three-hit days with Castro and Kasper each driving home three. Castro got his on two doubles with Kasper getting the first homer of his carer and for UCI this season. Palmer scored three times while three other 'Eaters were plated twice.

Firsts for a lot of 'Eaters such as first career hits for Jake Cosgrove and Riley Kasper. Nathan Church got his first RBI as did Kasper. 

Pitching Report
Peter Van Loon did well in his UCI debut allowing four runs on four hits with a pair of walks and seven strikeouts after 5.1 innings. Troy Wentworth made his debut out of the pen, but was unable to record an out allowing a walk and two hits.

Gordon Ingebritson shut down Fresno State's offense in his UCI debut allowing a single run in two innings with two strikeouts to earn his first win and the first for UCI this season. John Vergara erased all five hitters he faced on 12 pitches to lock up his first career save.

What Else Happened
Jake Palmer's hit streak has reached 10 games - Mike Peabody's ended at six, but he has reached in 16 straight - Adrian Damla registered the first 4-hit game of his career - the win is the 11th in 46 games vs. Fresno State, the sixth in 30 games in Fresno, the first since 2014, and the first in Fresno since 2004 - a win Sunday would secure just the second series win all-time vs. Fresno State in 14 series and first-ever in Fresno

Series Finale
The Anteaters and Bulldogs finish off their season-opening series on Sunday, February 16 with a 1:05 p.m. first pitch. The starter for UC Irvine has yet to be determined. UCI will play one more on the road, Tuesday, February 18 at USD before their home opener Friday, February 21