DAVIS, Calif. --- UC Irvine baseball dropped its first Big West game in over a month losing a late lead Saturday night at Dobbins Stadium to UC Davis, 7-3
- Trevor Hansen commanded the game while he was in following Riley Kelly's fantastic performance Friday. He too was hit with a no decision despite seven strong innings for the second time this year
- He and the 'Eaters actually trailed first after a leadoff triple in the third inning came around on an error following a dropped third strike for a 1-0 Aggie lead
- Hansen recovered stranding two in the fourth and bases loaded in the sixth with 1-2-3 frames mixed in for the fifth and seventh
- For the fourth time this season, Hansen also struck out eight in a performance, and the lone run he allowed was unearned
- The offense behind him scuffled but managed to put the team on top thanks to a two-run double from Frankie Carney in the fifth to lead, 2-1
- The bats had their chances to build on it ending a bases loaded opportunity in the first inning with a double play, and leaving the bases loaded in the fifth after Carney's double and just one out
- Anthony Martinez, on his birthday, helped add some insurance in the seventh after three straight 'Eaters reached and he punched an RBI single to center, 3-1
- UCI's normally lights-out relief was upended however on Saturday as David Butler and Max Martin were unable to hold the two-run lead in the eighth inning.
- With one on and one out, UC Davis responded with five consecutive hits move in front and score five adding a sixth on a wild pitch to lead 7-3 with three outs to get
- Frankie Carney again led the offense with two more hits and drove in two
- Martinez added two hits and the RBI
- Colin Yeaman's first-inning hit extended his hit streak to 18 games
The series hangs in the balance heading into Sunday's finale. It will be broadcasted on ESPN+ with first pitch at 1:00 p.m. as UC Davis will throw Matt Barnes II and the 'Eaters have yet to name their starter.
Postgame Thoughts from head coach Ben Orloff
"It's been a tough series. I think besides the Top of the 9th, the other 17 innings have been tied for a one-run game, so its been a dogfight for two days straight. Coming here and playing, Davis is good, it's hard to win here, tomorrow is going to be more of the same."
"Trevor threw the ball well. Pitched out of one jam getting a flyout to end the inning. He was himself - changed speeds, had the offspeed going good, competitive, he gave us a really good start. Like I mentioned yesterday, you need a good start to win here."