IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine baseball sped along for a 2-0 Friday night win in Anteater Ballpark thanks to Trenton Denholm's arm and timely offense to sink Sacramento State in the opener.

Zoning In
The night was highlighted by a top-tier pitching matchup between Trenton Denholm and Sac State's (8-5) Parker Brahms. Each were on a mission early getting their out in different ways. Brahms cut through the Anteaters (7-6) with a pair of strikeouts in each of the first two innings and seven by the fourth. Denholm used his defense allowing the leadoff hitter to reach in the first and second, but erasing each on double plays started by Taishi Nakawake and stranding a runner on third in the second to keep it a 0-0 game.

Yo Adrian
The lone offense on the night showed up in the third as Jake Palmer was hit by a pitch and Mike Peabody sliced a single to get the rally started. They made perfect reads to steal second and third to put the 'Eaters in a great position, but a Luke Spillane strikeout tightened the situation now with two outs. Adrian Damla found a way slapping the first pitch off the end of his bat into right field and scoring each for the 2-0 UCI lead after three.

Status Report
The rest of the evening fell in line as the pitching took command. Denholm wavered in the fifth and sixth allowing a pair of baserunners to get on in each, but turning things around just in time to keep Sac State scoreless. The Anteaters were stunted down the stretch getting a few runners on, but turned away from Brahms and reliever Brady Rodriguez. UCI nearly broke through for more runs in the fourth as Nakawake's bunt attempt was thrown away down the line likely scoring Griffin Mazur, but it was determined that he had run out of the running lane and he was called out and the rally was stopped.

Final Score: UC Irvine 2, Sacramento State 0
Damla's two RBIs led the way as he continues to lead the team with 12 now. The rest of the squad mustered a total of six hits with Jake Palmer the only Anteater to reach base twice adding two stolen bases.

Sac State had five hits scattered throughout  from five different hitters. Ryan Walstad had the most success reaching twice with a single and a walk.

Pitching Prowess
Pitching carried the day beginning with Denholm who threw six scoreless allowing four hits and three walks while striking out five. Gordon Ingebritson worked 1.2 flawless innings for the team's first hold of the year, and set up John Vergara for his third save of the season going 1.1 innings retiring all four hitters, two via strikeouts.

Parker Brahms was touched up for the first time this season if you can call it that. He doubled his runs allowed on the year in one night allowing the two in six innings along with five hits. He still has yet to walk a player in his four starts now, and struck out seven. Rodriguez cleaned up with two scoreless innings also not allowing a walk and striking out one.

Series Business
The weekend rolls on with a 6:00 p.m. start on Saturday, February 7 as Peter Van Loon heads to the mound comnig off his first collegiate victory to take on another worthy adversary in Scott Randall and his 2-0 record and 0.95 ERA.