Linton Doubles in Game-Winning Run as UC Irvine Edges Past Pacific
May 11, 2008
IRVINE, Calif. --- Ollie Linton drove in the eventual-game winning run in the eighth as and Eric Pettis struck out the side in the ninth for his 13th save as UC Irvine edged past Pacific, 2-1, to win the series Sunday at Anteater Ballpark. With the win, UCI climbed to 33-13 overall and 10-8 in league play while the Tigers fell to 11-37 overall and 3-18 in the Big West.
Linton laced a double into right center off Tiger starter Tyler Waldron to score pinch runner Tyler Hoechlin from second following Eric Deragisch's sacrifice bunt. The Anteater offense had been stymied by Waldron, who after giving up an RBI hit to Sean Madigan in the second, retired 17 of the next 18 Anteater batters before Ryan Fisher drew a leadoff walk in the eighth.
UCI starter Daniel Bibona kept the Tigers at bay as the southpaw retired the first seven batters to open the game. Pacific put runners on first and third with two outs in the top of the third but John Joines was caught trying to steal home to end the inning.
Pacific broke through in the seventh on Mike McKeever's solo home run to tie the game but Bibona retired Kurt Wideman and Joines hit into an inning ending double play.
Anteater pitcher Christian Bergman made his first appearance in three weeks and retired the final two batters in the eighth inning to earn the win and improve to 5-2. With the save, Pettis moved to third in the UCI career records.
Bibona struck out six and surrendered a run on five hits in 7.1 innings in the no-decision.
Waldron, who tossed his third complete game of the season, fell to 2-6, giving up two runs on four hits in eight innings.
