April 9, 2009

Box Score

IRVINE, Calif. --- UCI's Dillon Bell bounced a 3-1 pitch up the middle to drive in the game-winning run in the bottom of the 12th as fifth-ranked UC Irvine edged Long Beach State, 3-2, Thursday at Anteater Ballpark. UCI improved to 20-9 and 6-1 in the Big West while LBSU dropped to 14-15 overall and 2-2 in league play.

Casey Stevenson singled through the left-side to lead off the inning and reached second on a fly ball to left that was misplayed by TJ Mittelstaedt. A wild pitch by reliever Josh Corrales put Stevenson on third for Bell, whose single ended a four hour and 15-minute contest, the longest for UCI this season. Corrales fell to 0-1 on the season with the loss.

Anteater reliever Eric Pettis pitched three scoreless innings, striking out one and scattering three hits to improve to 3-1. Starter Daniel Bibona was solid, holding the Dirtbags to two runs on five hits in seven innings while striking out five in the no-decision. The Anteaters also received shutout efforts from Brock Bardeen and Noel Avison, who pitched an inning apiece and combined for three strikeouts.

LBSU's Adam Wilk also dealt seven innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on six hits while striking out two and walking three in the no-decision.

Long Beach State got on the board in the first, loading the bases with one out for Steve Tinoco, whose sacrifice fly to left would plate leadoff hitter Jonathan Jones. Bibona would retire 15 consecutive batters before giving up a pair of hits, including an RBI triple to Devin Lohman in the top of the sixth.

UCI knotted the score at a run apiece in the third, getting a run on an error by Derek Legg and tied the game again in the sixth on Jordan Leyland's single to right to drive in Jeff Cusick, who singled to lead off the frame.