March 20, 2009

Final Stats

IRVINE, Calif. --- Starter Daniel Bibona struck out a season-high 11 batters to lead No. 10 UC Irvine to a 1-0 shutout against Nevada Friday at Anteater Ballpark. The Anteater pitching staff went on to log 15 strikeouts, one shy of the single-game mark of 16 set in 2006. The win lifted UCI to 11-5 while Nevada fell to 7-11.

Bibona improved to 3-1 after hurling seven innings, walking two and yielding one hit. The lefty faced the minimum through five innings. Nevada's Shaun Kort singled in the top of the second for Nevada's only hit off Bibona, but was caught stealing to end the inning. Nevada drew two walks in the top of the sixth but following a sacrifice bunt by Travis Simas, Bibona fanned the final two batters of the inning and went on to strike out four of the next five batters he faced.

Catcher Francis Larson helped to break the scoreless tie in the fifth with a one-out triple to left-center. Starter Brock Stassi struck out designated hitter Jordan Leyland for the second out but outfielder Eric Deragisch jumped on the first pitch for a double to left to plate Larson.

Nevada's final chance to score came in the eighth as Nick Melino doubled to center off starter Cory Hamilton with one out. However, Hamilton responded with consecutive strikeouts to end the inning and handed the ball off to closer Eric Pettis, who retired the ninth in order for his fifth save of the season.

Stassi was the hard-luck loser, falling to 2-3, despite holding UCI to three hits. The lefty struck out five and walked one in six innings.