No. 13 UC Irvine Shut Out By Tulane
March 7, 2008
NEW ORLEANS, LA --- No. 13 UC Irvine was handed its first loss of the season, falling to Tulane, 2-0, Friday at Greer Field at Turchin Stadium. The Anteaters, who had started the season with eight straight wins for the best start in program history, dropped to 8-1 while the Green Wave climbed to 8-3 overall.
Tulane snapped UC Irvine's 38-inning shutout streak, scoring two runs in the bottom of the third. Anthony Scelfo led off the frame with a walk and stole second. Warren McFadden hit a fly ball to left that just landed inside the left-field line to drop for a double putting runners on second and third. With one out Seth Henry drove a single past a drawn-in infield to plate both runs.
The UC Irvine offense was held hitless by starter Shooter Hunt through the first five innings until the sixth when Ben Orloff hit a two-out single to left. Orloff stole second but was left stranded.
The Anteaters threatened in the eighth, loading the bases on a hit batsman and two consecutive one-out singles. However, Hunt induced Ryan Fisher to hit into an inning-ending double play.
UCI attempted to rally again with runners in scoring position in the ninth. Jeff Cusick was hit by the pitch to start the inning and Brock Bardeen drew a full-count walk. Francis Larson successfully executed on the sacrifice bunt to advance the runners but Dillon Bell flew out to center and Eric Deragisch hit a grounder to first to end the game.
Reliever Mason Griffin recorded his second save in the win.
Anteater starter Scott Gorgen was hit with his first loss (2-1), striking out 10 in the seven-inning effort. Gorgen walked two and surrendered two runs on four hits before giving way to Matt Dufour, who struck out one, walked one and yielded a hit in an inning in relief.
Orloff led the team with a pair of hits, going 2 for 3 while Ollie Linton was 1 for 4.
