May 30, 2008

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LINCOLN, Neb. --- Tony Asaro had three hits and Eric Pettis pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth inning to record his 16th save of the season as UC Irvine defeated Oral Roberts 9-7 Friday at the Lincoln Regional.

With the win, the second-seeded Anteaters meet No. 1-seed Nebraska Saturday at 5:05 p.m. (PDT) in a game that will be carried live on KUCI/88.9 FM. The Huskers topped Eastern Illinois 13-10 earlier Friday.

Pettis struck out four in 1.2 innings of relief as UCI improved to 39-16 on the season in snapping ORU's 12-game winning streak.

Junior Scott Gorgen started for the Anteaters and picked up the win to improve to 11-3. He struck out six and allowed six earned runs in five innings of work.

Christian Bergman worked two innings, striking out two and allowing one run while Tom Calahan fanned the only batter he faced in the top of the eighth.

The `Eaters struck for six runs in the bottom of the first inning and built an 8-2 lead after three before the Golden Eagles closed the gap to 8-7 in the seventh.

Casey Stevenson gave UCI an insurance run in the eighth, singling off the glove of scond baseman Juan Martinez to score Ben Orloff, who had reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to third on a hit-and-run single from Jeff Cusick.

ORU loaded the bases in the ninth with one out on a double from Kelly Minnissale and a pair of walks but Pettis struck out Ryan Groth and David Genoa grounded out to short to end the game.

Genao had three hits, including a two-run homer in the second to lead ORU. Brian Von Kirk also homered for the Golden Eagles, who fell to 46-13 on the season.

Michael Jarman absorbed the loss after recording just one out in UCI's six-run first inning.