Feb. 21, 2010

Box Score

IRVINE, Calif. --- Ryan Fisher led UCI with a career-high five RBI as No. 7 UC Irvine completed the sweep against Loyola Marymount with a 19-9 win Sunday at Cicerone Field at Anteater Ballpark. The Anteaters climb to 3-0 while LMU drops to 0-3.

UCI jumped on LMU starter Aaron Griffin, scoring 10 runs on seven hits against the freshman right-hander. The Anteaters brought 11 batters to the plate in the first. Third baseman Drew Hillman put UCI on the board with a two-run single and outfielder Sean Madigan followed with a two-run double, highlighting UCI's seven-run first. Fisher, who drove in Madigan, then hit a grand slam in the second to cap a five-run rally that staked the Anteaters to a 12-1 lead.

LMU scored twice in the third but UCI continued its offensive output in the bottom of the frame as Hillman singled to capitalize on a Ronnie Shaeffer triple. A Lion fielding error put Hillman on third, who then crossed the plate on an RBI groundout by Madigan for a 15-3 UCI lead.

Scott Gottschling made his collegiate debut as a pinch hitter in the UCI eighth and hit the first offering from reliever Tony Rosado over the left-field fence for a two-run home run. Junior transfer Jonathan Hurst made his first Division I appearance, pinch-hitting for Francis Larson, and drove a 2-0 pitch through the left side for his first hit of the season.

Senior All-American Eric Pettis picked up the win (1-0) after holding LMU to three runs on six hits in six innings of work. Pettis struck out four and walked one in his first start since June 19, 2007 when he faced Arizona State in the College World Series. Pettis yielded four runs on five in six innings in that outing as a freshman.

Freshman Matt Whitehouse struck out three in an inning while allowing two unearned runs in his first appearance for the Anteaters. Evan Brock debuted in the LMU eighth and hurled a scoreless inning, striking out two and walking one before giving way to freshman Kyle Hooper who finished out the game for UCI.

Fisher, a triple shy of the cycle, was 3 for 5 with two runs scored. Madigan drove in three runs and scored twice on 1 for 2 hitting while Hillman also had three RBI with a 2-for-5 performance at the plate. Outfielder Cory Olson was 2 for 3 with two RBI and two runs scored and Shaeffer had two hits and three runs scored in the win. Outfielder Dillon Bell, who entered as a defensive substitution, doubled twice to finish the day 2 for 2 with a run scored.

Matt Koch led the Lions, batting 2 for 3 with three RBI.

The Anteaters face Rikkyo University of Japan in an exhibition game Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. before traveling to compete in the Coastal Carolina Tournament, Feb. 25-28.

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