NORTHRIDGE, Calif. --- UC Irvine baseball fell victim to the offense-friendly confines of Matador Field Friday afternoon falling to the host Matadors, 15-10, in the series opener.

Both sides eased into the game with scoreless first innings before it was off to the races. UC Irvine (31-15, 12-10) kicked things off in the second inning with a pair of singles to start it that would lead to two runs in their half of the inning. Some base running lapses limited the 'Eaters to two runs and opened the door for CSUN (28-15, 14-9) in the bottom half as they put up five runs with assisted by three bunts in the inning to go up 5-2.

Anthony Martinez closed the gap in the third inning launching his 10th home run of the year scoring to to make it 5-4, but the Matador bats kept on coming with eight runs over the next three innings while UCI posted zeroes to grow the deficit to 13-4 entering the sixth.

The bats were re-energized with the first two hitters hit by pitch and both coming around. Dub Gleed crushed a three-run home run to cap the five-run inning to draw within 13-9. Each team would add single runs down the stretch that wasn't enough for the comeback as UCI fell, 15-10.

Anteater pitching hit a dip for the first time in the month of May as six of the seven pitchers used allowed a run and the staff astoundingly did not strike out a batter on the afternoon. UCI has done that one other time in May 21, 2017 against UC Riverside. Finnegan Wall drew the loss allowing four earned runs in an inning-plus. Max Martin had the most effective afternoon retiring four of his five batters. Sean Higgins also threw for the first time since injuring himself April 2nd.

"We didn't play good enough to win and clearly didn't execute near good enough on the mound," head coach Ben Orloff said of the Friday game. "When you allow 21 hits and get zero strikeouts, that tells the story. We also had some defensive breakdowns, we did not play good defense as a whole, and couple that with lack of execution on the mound, you give up 15 runs."

The bats still put up 10 runs for the 18th time this season, but first in a losing effort. Dub Gleed led the charge with four hits and four RBIs including his fourth long ball. Martinez again clubbed his 10th home run adding three RBIs. Caden Kendle scored three times, and like Luke Spillane, had a hit, run, and RBI each.

"The good part is that we made it a ballgame and CSUN had to use guys like Martinez and Romero. If you're not going to win, you want those guys to get into the game, especially when we were able to keep things close enough to get them in.

The loss gives UC Irvine almost no room for error as the season hits its final nine games and the 'Eaters in a tie for fifth and two games behind the Matadors. Michael Stanford takes the mound Saturday against Thomas Bainton looking to turn the series around.