RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- UC Irvine baseball climbed out of a large hole early for a Tuesday night win at Totman Stadium over California Baptist, 9-8.
- The Anteaters were rudely introduced to Totman Stadium for the first time going down 1-2-3 in the first inning and going down 2-0 after a two-out double to put CBU ahead
- The Lancers followed up with a four-run second inning where five straight reached including a two-run home run putting the 'Eaters behind, 6-0
- UCI's bat got kick-started by singles from Zach Crandall and Theo Kim who eventually scored on a groundout and an error to cut into the lead, 6-2
- After another CBU home run, UCI rallied once again putting up four runs in the fourth
- A two-out walk by Kim put things in motion with Anthony Martinez driving in two thanks to an error by the CBU infield to make it 7-4
- Alonso Reyes came through slashing a ball through the left side, and Martinez came in under the tag for a two-run single making it a 7-6 game
- Former Anteater David Vizcaino came in to stop the bleeding for the Lancers getting the final out and three of four hitters to keep the one-run lead into the sixth
- Colin Yeaman completed the comeback with a solo home run for his 13th on the season in the sixth to tie things at 7-7
- UCI's pitching all the while held its own while the offense got revved up
- Danny Suarez was called upon in the second inning, and while he did allow two inherited runners to score and gave up a home run to start the third inning, he regrouped to strike out the side in the third
- He got into trouble in the fourth inning, but found his way out by picking off a runner at first base with men on the corners, and he finished the frame with a strikeout to keep things within reach
- Jack Ross took over with two scoreless innings of his own as the 'Eaters drew even
- David Utagawa's scoreless inning was enough to earn the win, his first win and decision of 2025
- David Butler got sparkling defense behind him on a diving play by Kim, and added a strikeout to record his team-best sixth hold of 2025
- Max Martin closed things out for the second straight game despite a two-out RBI double to draw things to within one, but got a bouncer for the final out to collect his 10th save
- The final part of the comeback was a big eighth inning for the Anteaters starting in a 7-7 tie
- A one-out Anthony Martinez single got things rolling, and pinch-runner David D'Errico got into scoring position on Jacob McCombs' double
- Reyes stepped up and singled to first base as the Lancers came home to get the runner, but D'Errico slid home under the tag to give UCI its first lead, 8-7
- The next batter Zach Fjelstad hit a chopper to third base who again came home looking to nail the runner, but a low throw help McCombs slide in safely pushing the lead to 9-7
- The Lancers got a run on a two-out double in the ninth to make it a one run game, and had the tying and winning runs on base before Landon Gaz made a nice play on a tough hop for the final out, 9-8
- UC Irvine's 13-hit attack was fueled by Alonso Reyes going 4-for-4 and driving in three in key moments
- Yeaman's home run ties him back atop the Big West leaders while driving in a run and scoring twice
- Martinez added an RBI with his two hits while responsible for driving home three runs on the night. UCI had just five RBIs of their nine in the game
- Kim in the 9-hole was integral in the win scoring twice on the two times he reached base
- UCI finishes out its midweek slate going 7-3 on the season. UCI also improves to 3-0 all-time vs. CBU winning its first road matchup in the season. Both wins as Division I opponents have been by one run.
The Anteaters look ahead to their weekend series at Cal State Bakersfield next with an overall record of 35-11 and their 20-4 Big West record. First pitch Friday, May 9, comes down at 6:30 p.m. at Hardt Field
Postgame Thoughts from head coach Ben Orloff
"I think it's awesome. To be down 6-0, didn't think this would be a happy talk after the game at that point. Suarez kind of stabilized the game, and we pitched it really good after him and made some big plays on defense; kind of the story of a couple games this season where we've made some plays and the opponents haven't. And then that four-run inning starts with a two-out walk by Kim, he played great, Reyes played great, Crandall got it started, so you know it's a fun team when you've got guys that don't get a lot of opportunities, that are good players, and play a big role in us winning."
"It was huge. It was almost like Sunday a little bit where we score in a variety of different ways. Over the weekend, we struggled to score in the first two games, so on Sunday we execute four sac bunts, we bring down the strikeouts, we earn six walks, we hit a sac fly, and turn to tonight, we didn't necessarily do it that way, but you score those two runs one with the infield in and the other on two-strike contact. That's good, showing that we can score runs without relying on three-run home runs, and that's huge for us."
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