IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine baseball scored the series win with a comeback effort Sunday topping UC San Diego, 10-4, at Anteater Ballpark.
The Anteaters (16-8, 4-5) were chasing most of the early innings after UC San Diego (17-8, 7-2) put up and unearned run in the first followed by a solo home run to start off the second inning to go up 2-0. UCI answered with a run in their half of the second as
Jo Oyama got new life on a dropped foul ball and singled home
Myles Smith with two outs for the 'Eaters' first run.
After both sides put up a pair in the third, it was Oyama again taking matters into his own hands with a long home run to right field to tie the game at 4-4 in the fourth inning.
Michael Stanford earned the start on the day, his first as an Anteater in a weekend matchup, entering with a 1.27 ERA. The Tritons got to him scoring all four of their runs on Stanford before he was lifted in the third inning.
Danny Suarez stepped in and stepped up entering in a jam in the fourth inning and not only escaping it, but hitting the throttle with three perfect innings of relief including four strikeouts in his most extensive work of the season coming back from injury.
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All the while. the offense hit another gear, especially in the fifth inning.
Anthony Martinez was patient against Zack Ernisse's devastating breaking ball laying off to start the inning with a walk. Another walk and hit by pitch would load the bases as
Myles Smith earned another free pass to force home the go-ahead run and lead, 5-4. A hit by pitch to
Jacob Stinson added to the lead and the rally was on.
Dub Gleed whacked a single to score the seventh run, Oyama poked a fly ball to left field for his third run-scoring plate appearance of the day, and
Will Bermudez dealt the dagger with a drag bunt attempt that forced a wild throw from the Tritons to push across the fifth run of the inning and make it a 9-4 advantage.
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Suarez gave way to
Sean Higgins and finally
Jacob King who together closed the door for the last three inning and grab the series win from the Big West leaders, 10-4.
Every Anteater starter reached base on the day and contributed either a run scored or RBI. The biggest bats were
Caden Kendle putting up three of the team's 10 hits,
Myles Smith with the team's first three-steal game since 2021, and
Jo Oyama who drove in three including his first home run in Anteater Ballpark.
Suarez was dialed in and really sealed not only the win but secured his first career collegiate win.
Jacob King did not factor into the decision but was vital with his 2.1 innings striking out five while allowing just one baserunner.
"It was awesome," Suarez said of his game and the offense on Sunday. "The offense definitely helped pick us up when I got those zeroes. Sean came in in relief and then King to close it out. I felt really good today, and we just need to keep going up from here to go where we want to go. It's going to take a whole team effort and input."
The win turns around UCI's weekend after falling Friday as it notches its first conference series win and improves to 4-5 in the Big West. UCI is 16-8 overall and begins his nine-game homestand 3-1.
Next up is a Tuesday night meeting with Fresno State, April 4, with the Bulldogs hot off a weekend series win over UC Santa Barbara before the Anteaters welcome in Long Beach State April 6-8.
