LOS ANGELES, Calif. --- UC Irvine baseball could not keep any early lead Tuesday night at Page Stadium giving up the final four runs in a 4-3 loss to Loyola Marymount.

SETTING THE TONE
Fifth-year Anteater Andre Antone got his first chance at a starting role Tuesday night and took full advantage. "He did great," head coach Ben Orloff thought of his performance. "He earned the chance by how's he's pitched the majority of the season and picked us up big time Saturday giving us a chance to win that game. With him never starting before, we weren't sure what we would get, and to get five innings on a Tuesday after he goes 2+ on Saturday, he had a great performance and we couldn't have asked for anything more, he was spectacular."

Antone started off retiring the first seven hitters he faced, and even after a third-inning single, rolled up a double play to keep the momentum. Even after giving up a couple baserunners in the fourth, his defense came up big throwing behind the runner at third on a single and collecting the final two outs in strikeouts. He did the same in the fifth around LMU's (17-27-1) first run fo seven strikeouts over five innings, both setting career highs.

LATE DEMISE
UCI's (26-20, 11-10) offense got things going early with hits from the first two batters that would both come around on a Nathan Church RBI groundout and Dub Gleed single for a 2-0 first-inning lead. The lead grew to 3-0 in the fourth thanks to Taishi Nakawake's single.

The bullpens reversed roles as the Anteaters managed just one hit after knocking out starter Matt McClure. Meanwhile, LMU's bats woke up with four hits in the seventh inning to tie the game at 3-3. Anteater pitching didn't do any favors in the eighth loading the bases with nobody out on a walk and two hit by pitch. Troy Wentworth was called upon and get a foulout right out of the gate, and nearly escaped with a groundball up the middle that the infield missed a double play by an eyelash from speedy Ben Grunberg beating out the throw for the 4-3 lead.

FINAL SCORE: LOYOLA MARYMOUNT 4, UC IRVINE 3
The loss for UCI is just the second during the week this season in 10 contests. Nick Rincover was saddled with the loss, the first decision of his career.

The offense ran behind Caden Kendle and Woody Hadeen each with two hits and a run at the top of the order. Hadeen picked up his team-high 13th stolen base, one of three for UCI on the night. Taishi Nakawake had one as well along with an RBI, and RBIs also came from Church and Dub Gleed adding to his team high with 32.

UCI has one more midweek game next Tuesday vs. No. 24 UCLA. First will be a midweek series starting Friday, May 13, at UC Riverside.

Postgame Thoughts from head coach Ben Orloff
"We didn't play good enough to win. Antone gave us a good start, and it was wasted by our inability to play well down the stretch there."

"Wentworth came in in an awful spot and he did well. You couldn't have asked for much more than what he gave us. That was really good to see out of him."