connor-mcguire-uci-bsb-2021-washington-hawai'i
0
Hawai'i UH 11-4
4
Winner UC Irvine UCI 11-7
Hawai'i UH
11-4
0
Final
4
UC Irvine UCI
11-7
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Hawai'i UH 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 1
UC Irvine UCI 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 X 4 5 0

W: Denholm, Trenton (2-1) L: Davenport, Aaron (1-1) S: King, Jacob (1)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Alex Croteau

Defense, Denholm Deliver Shutout, 4-0

IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine baseball played sound in the field backing their Friday night ace, Trenton Denholm, to pick up a 4-0 shutout win Friday afternoon at Anteater Ballpark to drop Hawai'i in the series opener.

OPENING STATEMENT
The 'Eaters (11-7, 5-0) returned home for the first time since February, and for a lot of players it was a first real chance to show their stuff at home. Dillon Tatum had gone on a tear during the road trip and brought his power swing back with him popping the first Anteater hit high and out to dead center field for a 1-0 lead in the third inning of Rainbow Warrior (11-4, 3-2) starter Aaron Davenport who had been dealing.
 
FLASHING LEATHER
The top of the inning, Hawai'i was nearly the first to strike punching three hits against Denholm. He got a key play with Matt Campos up getting a liner to third baseman Connor McGuire to start a double play and empty the bases. Later in the inning, a bouncer to McGuire was nicely handled as he would make the final out and keep it 0-0.
 
The next inning, the Rainbow Warriors were threatening again with a leadoff runner on. Cleanup hitter Alex Baeza lifted a ball down into the left field corner going foul, but Luke Spillane made it count going full extension for a diving catch on the warning track and into the bullpen for the out and slowing the UH rally.
 
Tatum even got into the mix on defense throwing out another base stealer on a double play to end a frame after Denholm's strikeout.
 
MAKING MOVES
The game stayed at 1-0 for UCI for until the fifth inning they were able to take advantage. Taishi Nakawake blistered a double into the gap with one out to wake the bats up. An error on a bouncer to shortstop put runners on the corners giving Nathan Church the opportunity to single home Nakawake for a 2-0 lead.

The inning continued for Adrian Damla who came up with the bases loaded after a walk and hit by pitch, and he slid a single into right field and plate to more for a nice, 4-0 cushion for UCI.
 
FINAL: UC IRVINE 4, HAWAI'I 0
The bullpen nailed down the shutout win led by Jacob King stranding the two runners he inherited, and getting the heart of the order in the ninth for his first career save. Denholm was masterful tossing 107 pitches over seven shutout innings without a walk to improve to 2-1. Aaron Davenport pitched very well on the other side in a losing effort striking out six while allowing just two earned runs.

Tatum has had an unprecedented run at the plate with home runs in three straight games. His home run was also the first at UCI this year and his first in a home game. Damla now has 10 RBIs on the year with his two today as the 'Eaters needed just five hits. Hawai'i scattered its seven hits with Kole Kaler and Scotty Scott each recording two.
 
Thoughts from Head Coach Ben Orloff
"It starts on the mound, and Trenton was really good. We talk about it before the game that that was the type of pitching performance that was needed to win tonight, and he was great. We saw some of this last week at Davis and we've been spoiled by this for 3 1/2 years. We made some big-time plays on defense behind him, Tatum hits a home run, we get a two-out hit, and we win 4-0."
 
"Spillane's play was a big-time play to go as far as he did, backhand side, full count, nobody out with their best guy, that changed potentially the game. McGuire has played really good defense all year, and he made a big play with that double play and other ones, going to the line. He makes it look easy and its not, and it's a big reason why we're winning is playing defense."
 
"We know Dillon had power, but it seems like every night he's hitting one over the fence. He missed that one a little bit and it goes over the 408. We're good if he keeps hittin' them."
 
"Time after time the consistency that King has shown. He comes out in a big spot, 2nd and 3rd to Fogel for a strikeout, and then comes out and gets their 3-4-5 guys in the 9th, he's been great."
 
COMING UP SATURDAY
The teams really get into it with a doubleheader Saturday starting at 12:00 p.m. Nick Pinto and Cade Halemanu square off to start things, and then the second game will feature Michael Frias and Austin Teixeira who each come in at the top of their game.
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