DODGER STADIUM --- UC Irvine baseball played long ball toward a 5-2 win Sunday evening against UCLA in Dodger Stadium

• Off the bat, the first batter of the game Myles Smith turned a two-strike pitch around and out for a home run and a 1-0 lead
• Anteater starter Trevor Hansen was locked in early not allowing his first hit for 3.1 innings finishing with four strikeouts and four walks pitching into the fifth
• Ricky Ojeda came in allowing a runner on third to score to make it a 1-1 game. He would continue to go 2.1 scoreless frames with three strikeouts and picked up his first collegiate win
• In a tie game in the seventh, the 'Eaters loaded the bases from a hit batsman, single, and error setting the stage for Caden Kendle who hit a towering blast to left center just clearing the wall for a grand slam and a 5-1 lead
• David Utagawa helped quash one rally, but allowed an unearned run leaving in the eighth inning with bases loaded and a 5-2 lead.
• Ricky Tibbett entered punching out the first batter he faced to stop the UCLA threat. In the ninth inning, two runners made it to scoring position before he fired another clutch strikeout to end the game and pick up his third save.
• The win moves the 'Eaters to 9-0 on the season and the best start in program history, and end the weekend as 1 of 5 programs in the country still unbeaten. They've also extended their win streak to 15 games dating back to last season matching the second-longest streak in program history
• The Anteaters improve to 1-1 all-time in games at Dodger Stadium and have won five consecutive against the Bruins

UC Irvine returns home for a Tuesday matchup with California Baptist, March 5, with first pitch at 6:00 p.m. before a trip to play four games starting Thursday in Fresno against Fresno State and Columbia.

Postgame Thoughts
Myles Smith - "This is awesome. I mean growing up, this is what all baseball players want. And to be here and play and win, it's super special, no words honestly."

"I just went up there, I knew I wanted to get things off to a good start, and I got down 0-2 and I just swung and it went out."

Caden Kendle - "In that situation, bases loaded one out, you just try to drive a ball to the outfield, do my job, score a run, and then I got enough of it and it went out."

"It was awesome. One through nine at bat, the pitching, everyone just firing on all cylinders. Playing hard, no giving up, relentless, like we just want to win and play as much as we can."

Trevor Hansen - "Awesome. Pitching at Dodger Stadium; it's just something everyone dreams of and to do it in my third start my freshman year is just amazing. Couldn't have asked for anything better. Just happy with the way I pitched and helped the guys win today. It's a lot of fun."

Ricky Tibbett - "It's awesome, man. It was an unreal experience here at Dodger Stadium. You don't really get to do that often so it's pretty cool. I've only been here in the stands so getting here is super dope. I love it"

"I've gotta compete. That's the whole mindset that I had there in that inning. I wanted to pick up my boy, David Utagawa, and I compete in that situation in high leverage situation. I love those situations to be in."










 

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