April 26, 2008

Box Score

ALBUQUERQUE, NM --- Dillon Bell and Josh Tavelli combined for six RBI to lead UC Irvine to a series win over New Mexico with an 11-6 decision Saturday at Isotopes Park. Centerfielder Ollie Linton recorded a stolen base to become UCI's single-season record holder with 29 as the Anteaters improved to 27-10 overall.

New Mexico (27-18) took an early 2-0 lead on Ian Hollick's solo home run in the first and an RBI single by Scott Gracey in the second. However, the Anteaters tied the game in the top of the third on Linton's run-scoring single to plate Bell, who had led off the inning with a double, and a sacrifice fly by Eric Deragisch.

UCI claimed the lead with a three-run fourth, highlighted by Tavelli's two-run home run, his second of the season. The Anteaters added four in the fifth as Tavelli delivered again with a sacrifice fly to score Francis Larson and was followed by a three-run blast from Bell to stake UCI to a 9-2 lead.

The Lobos added a single run in the bottom of the sixth but Ryan Fisher answered for the Anteaters with a solo home run in the UCI seventh, giving the team its first three-home run game since March 15 against Hawaii.

Trailing 11-4 in the bottom of the eighth after Deragisch's RBI single in the top of the frame, the Lobos pushed across two runs on a run-scoring double from Matt Hibbits and a single from Brian Cavazos-Galvez. However, right-hander Kyle Necke entered in relief for Cole Hathcock and induced an inning-ending groundout. Necke finished the game, yielding two hits in the scoreless ninth.

Lobo starter Jacob Norton gave up eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits in 4.1 innings to fall to 5-3.

Bell was 3 for 3 with three RBI, including a double and a home run while Linton also had a three-hit day, batting 3 for 5 with two runs batted in. Tavelli drove in three on 1 for 3 hitting and the Anteaters also received a pair of RBI from Deragisch, who was 2 for 4 at the plate.

New Mexico was led by Cavazos-Galvez, who was 4 for 4 with two RBI.