IRVINE, Calif. --- The City of Irvine was at Anteater Ballpark Saturday afternoon and UCI baseball upped their game with a 6-0 win over Hawai'i to even the weekend series.
Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan was at the park throwing out the first pitch pregame along with other Irvine dignitaries and Miss Irvine. Khan joined the broadcast in the third inning helping the 'Eaters score a run with the bats as UCI celebrated with its third shutout of the season Saturday.
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Michael Stanford was in control throwing seven shutout innings allowing just two hits on a team-high 105 pitches. He added five strikeouts evading trouble just once when Hawai'i (22-17, 11-9) got both of their hits in the fourth inning.
"I knew this was an important game, I think we all did after last night, and we came out with a bit of a chip on our shoulder and played the game. We didn't get too out of our heads, stayed with the plan, and everybody dominated in every aspect of the game."
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Like Stanford mentioned, every aspect was clicking for UCI (29-14, 11-9). The bats were working early and often as UCI took the lead two hitters into the game.
Will Bermudez drew a leadoff walk setting up
Caden Kendle's opposite-field home run to make it 2-0 Anteaters.
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UCI added runs in the second from a sacrifice fly, and put another run on the board from back-to-back doubles in the fourth by Kendle and
Anthony Martinez to go up 4-0.
Thomas McCaffrey capped the win with a two-run home run slipping it over the left field wall in the fifth inning to make it a 6-0 ballgame. McCaffrey and Kendle finished with two hits and two RBIs along with a home run. Kendle scored twice on the day while
Auggie Gutierrez put up his second two-hit game of the week as part of nine hits for the 'Eaters.
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"Coach as been preaching this week and since last week, each game should be treated like a playoff game. We've taken that to heart and realized what we have ahead of us. Right now, we're rolling, and having the mentality of it being a playoff game really helps us dig in a little bit, strap the boots on, and keep us in check now that we're fighting for it."
Another playoff game comes Sunday as the series comes to a head with a 1:00 p.m. first pitch and
Nick Pinto on the mound for the 'Eaters.
