IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine baseball dropped just its second series opener of the season Friday night to UC San Diego by a score of 19-4 at Anteater Ballpark.
- The fireworks started in the first inning with both teams getting on the board
- UCSD followed a leadoff walk with consecutive doubles to score twice and lead 2-0. Riley Kelly got a pair of strikeouts to get out of it and strand the runner at second
- UCI got it back and then some with a four-run first inning. A pair of singles set up Chase Call with a booming double off the right field wall to cut it to 2-1. Anthony Martinez smashed a home run to straightaway center field for a three-run homer to take a 4-2 lead
- The Tritons responded with two home runs in a four-run second inning to take the lead back 6-4
- UCI managed a single in the second inning, but couldn't answer as both teams would trade zeroes for a few frames
- UC San Diego went on the attack after that with four more runs in the fourth inning and all but put the game away in the fifth scoring nine runs for the 19-4 lead
- UCI's offense fell stagnant with just one hit through the final seven innings finishing with six from six different hitters
- Riley Kelly took his first loss of the season lasting just 1.1 innings allowing six runs
- Five Anteater pitchers took the mound on the night with David Utagawa the lone effective arm closing out the final three innings with scoreless pitching retiring the final nine he faced after a leadoff walk that included four strikeouts
- UCI's win streak ends at eight games, its third win streak of seven or more games on the year. Overall, the team is 33-10 with a 19-3 Big West mark, three games up on second place Cal Poly
The series rolls along Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. first pitch. UCI will send out
Trevor Hansen while the Tritons have yet to announce their starter.
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