IRVINE, Calif. --- Mike Peabody's bat proved to be the difference as UC Irvine defeated Sacramento State, 3-2, Saturday night at Cicerone Field.
 
EARLY STINGS
After a pitching duel dominated the headlines in the opener on Friday night, the bats came alive early in game two. Sacramento State (8-6) got to UC Irvine starter Peter Van Loon in the first, scoring twice on a walk and pair of doubles. The Anteaters (8-6) also got their bats rolling quickly, getting a leadoff single from Jake Palmer which was followed by a double from Peabody to cut the Hornets lead to 2-1 after one inning.
 
TURNING THE TIDE
Following a laborious first inning, Van Loon would settle down to hold the Hornets scoreless for the next five frames keeping them to just two hits with four strikeouts.

In the third inning, Peabody was at it again curling a deep drive around the left field foul pole to even the score 2-2. The 'Eaters kept things going in the fourth with a leadoff double by Adrian Damla setting up Konnor Zickefoose for a run scoring single to put UCI ahead 3-2.
 
JOSHING WITH YA
The Anteaters handed the ball off to Junior Josh Ibarra with a one run lead to begin the seventh inning. Ibarra would toss the final three innings working around leadoff baserunners in the seventh and eighth innings to lock down the win and secure his first career save.
 
FINAL SCORE: UC IRVINE 3, SACRAMENTO STATE 2
The Anteaters scored single runs in the first, third, and fourth innings to provide just enough offense for Van Loon and provide the team's second come from behind win of the season.

Peabody had two RBIs to lead the team including his second home run of the season while providing the only multi-hit effort of the 'Eaters' six hits. Konnor Zickefoose added the go-ahead RBI, his third of the season
 
On the mound, Van Loon bounced back from a rocky start to pick up the win, going six innings and allowing two runs while striking out four. He improved to 2-0 now with back-to-back quality starts and five for the staff as a whole on the season.

His counterpart, Scott Randall, also threw quality ball with three runs allowed over 6.2 innings, but suffered his first loss of the year. He led all players with seven strikeouts. Travis Maritiza and Jack Zalasky finished retiring their four hitters as Sac State continues to impressive having not issued a walk in the first two games of the series.

Josh Ibarra bounced back from his effort Tuesday where he lost the shutout and save opportunity at USC to shut down the Hornets over the last three innings to earn that first save striking out three.

SERIES SENDOFF
The weekend ends Sunday, March 8 with a 1:00 p.m. first pitch between the Anteaters and Hornets. UCI will send out Michael Frias to start on Sunday to face Sac State righty Travis Adams.