FULLERTON, Calif. --- UC Irvine baseball sewed up a spot in the Big West Championship Final with a run-rule victory Friday, 15-3, over Cal Poly at Goodwin Field.
- UC Irvine charged out of the gate with a strong first inning once again getting the first three runners on base and getting RBIs on a Jacob McCombs grounder and Chase Call single to lead 2-0
- An error brought a run home in the third for a 3-0 lead meanwhile Trevor Hansen was in command going 3-up, 3-down in the first and third innings while halting a two-out rally in the second stranding two in scoring position
- The offense took off starting in the fourth putting up six runs, five with two outs
- Three straight one-out singles made it a 4-0 game thanks to a Colin Yeaman RBI
- McCombs launched a three-run home run to make it a 7-0 lead with two outs
- A single brought up Blake Penso who crushed a home run to center field for a 9-0 lead
- Another six-run inning followed in the fifth inning
- A runner on with two outs was followed by a Yeaman walk and then Anthony Martinez boosted a double over the right fielder to bring home two and go up, 11-0
- A pitching change and a pair of hit by pitch loaded the bases as Penso put a charge into a ball to left center clearing the bases and opening up a 14-0 lead
- Alonso Reyes was the last Anteater without a hit and changed that with a single to center scoring a run to make it 15-0
- Cal Poly responded well with four straight hits to start their sixth inning and scoring three times as Hansen dialed up his sixth strikeout to end the inning with a runner on third
- Heading into the seventh inning and the score 15-3, a run rule was in effect.
- The Mustangs came out hot with a walk and hit to start the frame finally ending his night.
- David Utagawa came on looking to end the game early. A single on the first pitch loaded the bases with nobody out
- A short fly ball followed, and then a tailor-made double play ended it by a score of 15-3
- All nine Anteater starters collected a hit for 15 in the game
- Martinez led the way with three driving in two runs leaving him two away from tying the UC Irvine all-time record
- Penso had his second game of the season with five or more RBI all coming from two hits. His home run was his eighth of the year and 10th of his career
- McCombs blasted his 10th home run of the season adding four RBIs to give him six on the weekend
- Yeaman scored all four times he reached base with five other 'Eaters scoring multiple runs
- Trevor Hansen on the mound was in the zone producing his eighth quality start of the year striking out six over six innings and improving to 9-2
The win sets up the Anteaters with a spot in the Big West Championship Game played Saturday, May 24, at 7:00 p.m. Their opponent has yet to be determined with Cal State Fullerton and Hawai'i playing an elimination game later Friday, and the winner taking on Cal Poly earlier Saturday for the other spot in the championship. An 'Eater win Saturday would secure the Big West Championship title while a loss will send the tournament to an eighth and final game Sunday at 3:00 p.m.
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