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Baseball:
Bardeen Sets Baylor Classic Record in UCI Win over Alabama-Birmingham
March 6, 2009 WACO, Tex. --- Designated hitter Brock Bardeen set a QTI Baylor Classic record with seven RBI in two at-bats to lead fifth-ranked UC Irvine to a 13-5 victory over Alabama-Birmingham Friday at Baylor Ballpark. The roundtrippers were the first for the senior this season as UCI improved to 6-3 with the win. Bardeen jumped on a pair of first pitches in his first two at-bats to go yard, first over the right-field fence and then over center and ended the day 2 for 3. Catcher Francis Larson also delivered a homerun, halting a 6.1-inning hitless streak for the Anteaters with a two-run shot over the right-field wall in the top of the ninth. Eight of nine starters recorded a hit as UCI registered its second-highest number of hits this season with 12. Starter Daniel Bibona picked up the win (2-0) after pitching 6.1 innings. The lefty allowed three earned runs on nine hits while striking out five in the start. Senior Matt Dufour pitched 2.2 innings, giving up a run on three hits while striking out one and walking one. Outfielder Ryan Fisher put UCI, the designated visiting team, on the board with an RBI single to score DJ Crumlich who reached first on a base on balls. UAB starter Kyle Roberson yielded a run on a wild pitch and then walked Tony Asaro before Bardeen would clear the bases.
The Anteaters struck again in the second with a six-run inning. Crumlich drove in Tommy Reyes, who singled in his first collegiate start. Orloff followed with a single and Fisher and Tony Asaro worked consecutive walks to load the bases for Bardeen's grand slam to center.
The Blazers scored in their half of the first on an RBI single by Brint Hardy and a UCI error and again in the third on a solo home run by Cody McMurry. UAB tacked on a run in the eighth but that would be all as Dufour closed the door in the ninth, retiring three straight following a leadoff walk. Roberson fell to 0-2 after giving up nine runs on eight hits in 1.2 innings of work. Hardy and catcher Allen Aubin led the team with a pair of hits apiece. The Anteaters take on No. 6 Baylor Saturday at 4:30 p.m. |
