IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine baseball's weekend rivalry series against Long Beach State ended on a low note falling, 9-0, Sunday afternoon in Anteater Ballpark.

SUNDAY SWINGS
The ballgame began with a brief pitcher's duel as starters Peter Van Loon and Jack Noble came out firing with a pair of strikeouts each in the first inning. Van Loon got into a little bit of trouble walking a batter and hitting one in the second, but came through with a big strikeout to keep it scoreless.

BEACH BREEZE
With the wind blowing out Sunday, the game's first runs were helped along by that as Calvin Estrada popped a shot to left center that carried up and out for a two-run home run in the third inning. The gates opened for the Long Beach State (14-13, 12-12) offense who would score in each of the next five innings.

LBSU got a two-out double in the fourth that led to a walk of Estrada bringing up Chase Luttrell. He made the 'Eaters (26-14, 18-6) pay by smashing a ball right at and through Anteater first baseman Jacob Castro to bring home both runs and grow the lead to 4-0.

The Beach added another pair in the fifth thanks to a controversial call. With two outs and a runner on first, Brennan Rozell flipped a ball into short center field. Mike Peabody charged in and dove for the catch coming up with the ball, but it was called no-catch, and Charlie Loust on first base came all the way around to score the run with two outs. The inning continued and LBSU made it 6-0 on a Connor Burns bloop single adding to the Anteater misery.

FINAL SCORE: LONG BEACH STATE 9, UC IRVINE 0
The Anteater bats didn't add anything as they were shut out for the just the second time this season, first since early March. The team also recorded six hits for the third straight game. Castro had a pair and doubled for the only extra-base hit.

LBSU pitching stole the show as Jack Noble went five innings for the win striking out five and allowing just two hits. Devereaux Harrison went the final four innings for the save adding four strikeouts.

Peter Van Loon was stuck with the loss allowing five runs, three earned, over 4.1 innings. He did lead all pitchers with seven strikeouts. Four relievers followed with two, Josh Ibarra and Dylan Riddle, throwing scoreless innings. For Riddle, he became the 15th Anteater to pitch in 70 games over a career.

BIG SERIES LOOMING
The 'Eaters split with Long Beach State over the weekend to go to 18-6 in Big West play. Next up, they will head to Santa Barbara to battle with the Gauchos who sit with them atop the standings at 20-8. The sides start play Friday, May 7, with first pitch at 5:00 p.m. Saturday's doubleheader has start times of 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. with the later game being televised nationally on ESPNU. The series finishes Sunday with first pitch at 1:00 p.m.