IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine baseball again had their win streak snapped at five with Tuesday night's 7-4 loss to Loyola Marymount in Anteater Ballpark.
TRADING BLOWS
The game really got going in the fifth inning with LMU (6-5) holding a slim 1-0 lead.
Cooper Robinson was on trying to get through the Lions loading the bases with two outs. Designated hitter Jared Thomas did just that plastering a double off the right-field wall to score all three runners and give a big 4-0 lead to LMU.
The Anteaters (10-2) hit right back starting their fifth inning off with a booming solo home run to center field by
Chase Call to get the home team on the board. The inning continued with UCI loaded the bases themselves on a walk, single, and bunt single.
Will Bermudez matched Thomas's bases-clearing hit with one of his own tripling into the right field corner to tie things at 4-4 in the fifth.
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OUT OF REACH
The Lions responded with two runs of their own in the sixth on a two-out double plating a pair of unearned runs. In the seventh, LMU added their seventh run as Thomas one-upped his hit in the fifth with a solo home run to start the inning and go up, 7-4.
UCI continued to apply pressure including a well-executed hit-and-run in the seventh to put runners on the corners. The rally came to an abrupt halt as a
Jacob Stinson liner was snagged to start a double play and end the frame.
In the ninth, the 'Eaters were in business again loading the bases, but a lazy fly ball for the second out and an
Anthony Martinez shot that fell just short of the wall left the 'Eaters wanting dropping their first home game of the season.
FINAL SCORE: LOYOLA MARYMOUNT 7, UC IRVINE 4
The 'Eaters were unable to find the sixth straight win for a second time now sitting at 10-2 on the year.
"I think we kidn of walked into this one thinking we're 10-1 and things are going to be handed to us," noted sophomore
Chase Call on the game. "This just goes to show you that any team can beat you on any given night. It's a tough loss, but we've got to pick it back up and focus on traveling and getting into Gonzaga this weekend."
Michael Stanford took the loss allowing three runs, one earned over 1.1 innings despite coming off Big West Pitcher of the Week honors. UCI's five pitchers allowed a baserunner in each inning, however faced the minimum once in the eighth with help from the defense as
Chase Call's relay to
Will Bermudez nailed a Lion runner at third base trying to stretch a double into a triple.
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Offensively, Call was one of the bright spots with his four long-ball of the season and 16th RBI. Bermudez knocked in three on two hits, and
Thomas McCaffrey had himself a three-hit day as well.
"I've really just trusted my approach at the plate. I'm not doing much different but buying into what we're taught here and it's working out so I'm very happy for that."
LOOKING AHEAD
Next up for the Anteaters is a third straight weekend on the road heading to snowy Gonzaga for three. The weather could play a factor in the weekend with snow and low temperatures in the forecast for the first home games for the Bulldogs. Friday night's first pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. with
David Vizcaino on the mound for the 'Eaters.
