IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine broke free late to claim a third win on the weekend sweeping the University of Washington, 3-1, Monday afternoon in Anteater Ballpark.

JAM SESSION
Both offenses made the starting pitchers work early in the game. The Anteaters (3-0) got a runner on base in every inning of the contest. Meanwhile, the Huskies (0-3) got their first two batters on and in scoring position, but UCI lefty Nick Pinto struck out the final two batters to keep UW scoreless.

Pinto had to fight through runners in scoring position in each of his first four innings, but managed to escape every time as he threw five scoreless frames Monday with five strikeouts to go with three walks and four hits allowed.

BURSTS OF OFFENSE
The runs were hard to come by in the series finale. UCI got on the board first like they had done the two nights before when Mike Peabody rapped a single up the middle with two outs. He stole second base making it easy for him to score when Nathan Church laced a single off the glove of second baseman Noah Hsue into center field for the 1-0 UCI lead in the third.

Washington followed UCI's suit in the sixth inning getting a couple of runners aboard and on the corners with two outs. Pinch-hitter Preston Viltz hit an identical ball up the middle that UCI's second baseman Jake Cosgrove knocked down, but could not corral scoring the Huskies' first run and tying it up at 1-1.

STOLEN VALOR
The key moment came in the eighth inning with the game still locked up at 1-1. Mike Peabody launched a double to left field with one out. After an intentional walk to Nathan Church, the duo took off for a double steal to get the wheels moving. Adrian Damla would get Peabody home on a sacrifice fly, and then freshman Woody Hadeen's first collegiate hit fell into center field to plate Church to open the game up to 3-1 for an Anteater lead.

FINAL: UC IRVINE 3, WASHINGTON 1
Josh Ibarra was back on the mound for the ninth inning and skirted around a baserunner to collect his second save of the year. John Vergara picked up the win from 1.1 scoreless innings and a pair of strikeouts.

Nathan Church was a force on the basepaths in the game stealing three bases, the first time any 'Eater had done that since Tommy Reyes in 2012. He was also caught stealing on a fourth attempt in the third. The team as a whole stole six bases, the most since 2008, on eight attempts. Church did not record an out walking three times, once intentionally, adding a single, scoring a run, and collecting an RBI.

Peabody scored twice on each of his hits including a double. He also stole two bases on the afternoon.

The hit and RBI for Hadeen were the first of his career. Another debut on Monday was behind the plate in junior transfer Dillon Tatum. He walked in three plate appearances along with a stellar play late in the game getting a lead runner from advancing on a sacrifice bunt.

Washington out-hit UCI, 9-6, with Will Simpson getting two and Cole Fontenelle coming off the bench for two and the team's run. Starter Jack Enger went 3.1 innings for UW allowing a run while walking two and striking out two. The loss on the day went to Adam Bloebaum giving up two runs in an inning of work.

Head Coach Ben Orloff's Thoughts
"Runs were at a premium all weekend for both sides. Peabody is one of the best runners on the team, experienced, third time we've seen Bloebaum on the mound. We had the right guys, right combination, and we executed well."

"Trying to manufacture and score runs, we want to be a complete offense that can win in a bunch of different ways. What we saw on video and from the last two days, we were trying to take advantage of some stuff on the bases."

"Peabody is a really dynamic player that can help us win a lot of different ways. When he's hitting the ball like his last at-bat against a tough left-on-left matchup is huge for that inning."

"Pinto was great. He pitched out of those two first inning jams and showed us something in the first. I've said it since that USC start, he's a Friday-night guy waiting to happen. He keeps getting better and is really good."

"Relievers sometimes have to have a short memory. We've put an emphasis on relievers about needing to go back-to-back days and multiple times on a weekend with the way our schedule is this year. Both Ibarra and Vergara yesterday after the game told Bibona they wanted to pitch again today, and we want them out there."

NEXT WEEK
With no midweek games this year for coach Orloff's bunch, they wont get back on the field until the weekend playing three against No. 14 UCLA starting Friday, Feb. 26. The series starts at UCLA on Friday at 5:00 p.m. with it switching venues to Anteater Ballpark Saturday before returning to UCLA for the finale Sunday at 2:00 p.m.