HONOLULU, Hawai'i --- The 19th-ranked Anteaters bounced back on Saturday after dropping the series opener the day before dropping the host Rainbow Warriors, 8-5, in Les Murakami Stadium.
Starting Off Right
Leadoff hitter extraordinaire
Jake Palmer worked a walk to start the game and get the Anteater offense going. He would come around to score as
Adrian Damla chopped a single over the first baseman. UCI (17-5, 1-1) added a second from a
Brendan Brooks sacrifice fly and the 'Eaters were off and running. UCI added a third run in the third inning as Damla's hard grounder was kicked by the second baseman. Hawai'i starter Jeremy Wu-Yelland failed to get out of the inning, but reliever Cade Smith shut the door with the bases loaded and keep Hawai'i (11-15, 1-1) in the game.
Making A Move
UH got on the board with two outs in the fourth inning to close the gap, but the 'Eaters stretched the lead to 6-1 in the sixth inning.
Griffin Mazur drove a ball up the middle to score
John Jensen after he was hit by a pitch leading off as a pinch-hitter. The 'Eaters got another run on a spectacular double play, and with the bases empty, built another small rally with another RBI for Damla.
Mike Peabody launched a shot into the gap that would have broken open the game, but right fielder Tyler Best made an amazing catch diving on the warning track to end the inning and keep the game at 6-1.
Bash Brothers
UC Irvine held firm to a 6-2 lead heading into the seventh inning.
Brendan Brooks started the inning off with a massive shot to left field fo a solo HR and a 7-2 lead. Two batters later,
Christian Koss followed suit aiming to left-center to deposit a solo HR of his own to make it 8-2.
Final Score: No. 19 UC Irvine 8, Hawai'i 5
The Rainbow Warriors made the 'Eaters nervous teeing off a little on reliever
Jordan Bocko scoring three times in the ninth inning, but
Taylor Rashi would help clean up the mess for his seventh save. Koss finished with three hits to lead all Anteaters while Brooks and Damla each drove in a pair of runs.
Pitchers of Record
Tanner Brubaker was masterful scattering six hits over seven innings allowing just the two runs.
John Vergara bridged the game to the ninth striking out the side in his inning. Jeremy Wu-Yelland scuffled through 2+ innings allowing three runs on four hits and three walks to drop to 1-3.
Next Up
The weekend comes to a head on Sunday, March 31 with a 4:05 p.m. PT start between the Anteaters and Rainbow Warriors.
Trenton Denholm and Li'i Pontes start for the squads as each side looks for a series win to open conference play
