IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine baseball split their doubleheader with rival Long Beach State losing the opener in a blowout, 13-4, followed by a tight-knit afternoon victory, 3-2.

GAME ONE
Long Beach State (13-13, 11-12) responded to a lackluster effort Friday night by pounding the ball early Saturday. Four batters into the game, the Dirtbags led 4-0 from a fluke triple, two singles, and a three-run home run by Charlie Loust.

The Dirtbags stepped on the gas in the second inning scoring a couple more runs before ousting starter Nick Pinto from the game with a couple runners on a one out in the second inning. LBSU would greet reliever Troy Wentworth rudely as Isaac Ramirez launched another three-run home run for a 9-0 LBSU lead after two innings.

NO MERCY
The 'Eaters (26-13, 18-5) entered their half of the seventh inning down 13-1 and three outs from a shortened, run-rule ending to their game. A substitute-filled lineup saw starting catcher Thomas McCaffrey score UCI's second run on an RBI single by Jake Cosgrove. With two outs and two on base, it was up to Abraham Garcia-Pacheco to extend the game, and he did more than that lashing his first career hit for a triple to left-center plating both runners and drawing the deficit to nine runs and keep the game going into the eighth.

FINAL SCORE: LONG BEACH STATE 13, UC IRVINE 4
The 13 runs allowed are the most the 'Eaters have allowed all year and the first time since early in March allowing double digits. The 18 hits are the most by an Anteater opponent on the year as well.

The Anteaters offense mustered just six hits with McCaffrey posting the only two-hit day. He's now reached in all 13 games he's recorded an at-bat. Garcia-Pacheco posted his first two career RBIs reaching on all three times he came to the plate. Cosgrove was the only 'Eater with a hit, run, and RBI.

Pinto drew the loss now sitting 4-3 on the year responsible for eight earned runs in 1.1 innings. Four of the five Anteater pitchers allowed a run except for Michael Stanford shutting down LBSU in two innings with three strikeouts.

Alfredo Ruiz stood tall for Long Beach State nearly completing a complete game, but allowed three earned in 6.2 innings to win his second this year.

GAME TWO
The second part of the doubleheader started with a high-octane first inning as well. LBSU began taking advantage of a two-out single and passed ball to set them up when Charlie Loust singled two runs, part of his eight RBIs on the day, to put LBSU ahead again, 2-0.

The Anteaters made a quick response getting singles from their first five hitters in the bottom of the first. Luke Spillane's infield single off starter Luis Ramirez and Jacob Castro's infield single that second baseman Sebastian Murilo dove and tried to flip behind him to get the lead runner would both score 'Eaters to tie it at 2-2. Dillon Tatum's towering sacrifice fly would bring home Mike Peabody for the slight 3-2 lead after one inning.

ARMED AND READY
After the whirlwind first inning, Michael Frias and Luis Ramirez stole the show on the mound. Frias minimized a few Dirtbag baserunners getting double play balls to end the second and fourth innings. He made a couple fantastic plays on balls in front of the play to make outs at first including jumping on a bunt attempt by Murillo and throwing from the seat of his pants to get the out from the third baseline. Frias added a big strikeout and timely defense by Jacob Castro in the sixth inning to escape a jam with two in scoring position.

Luis Ramirez was just as good on the other end not allowing any Anteater hits after the first five batters of the game until Jake Palmer dumped a double in in the seventh inning. He struck out four of his five hitters in the final two innings before exiting, but still trailing, 3-2

FINAL SCORE: UC IRVINE 3, LONG BEACH STATE 2
That first inning score held up as Gordon Ingebritson pitched flawlessly for one hitter in the seventh and the full eighth inning. Jacob King closed out his fourth save of the season stranding the tying run at second with two strikeouts.

Frias took home the victory now 6-0 on the season. He matched a career high for the fourth time with nine strikeouts and issued a single walk. Ramirez was the hard-luck loser now 2-4 on the year.

Palmer had two of the six Anteater hits while also scoring. UCI had six hits in each game on Saturday. Loust for LBSU had their only two-hit game driving in both runs.

SUNDAY FINALE
The teams play once more on Sunday, May 2 with a 1:00 p.m. start time. Peter Van Loon and Jack Noble take the mound with a series win on the line.