UCI suffers setback

IRVINE — Still closer to the middle of the pack than the leaders of the Big West Conference, this was one series in which the UC Irvine baseball team was supposed to gain ground.

After two games against visiting UC Riverside, however, the Anteaters have been relegated to middle ground.

The Highlanders (10-23, 4-4 in conference) halted their seven-game losing streak by outplaying the No. 5-ranked ’Eaters (24-8, 6-5) in all facets, evening the three-game series at one game apiece with a 5-3 victory that UCI may long regret.

“Frustrated is the right word,” said UCI Coach Mike Gillespie, who was particularly disappointed with some poor at-bats in clutch situations by his top two RBI guys in the late innings, before 688 at Anteater Ballpark.

Sophomore cleanup hitter Francis Larson, who leads the team with six homers and is second with 28 RBIs, struck out with men on first and second to end the seventh inning.

Larson grounded out to third for the second out of the ninth with a runner on second and one run in against heralded Highlanders closer Joe Kelly. Larson did extend his hitting streak to 11 games.

Finally, freshman Ryan Fisher, whose 30 RBIs lead the team, struck out to end the game with the potential tying run at first base.

UCI’s Nos. 3-6 hitters were a combined three for 17 with one RBI. They combined to leave 12 runners on base, including seven in scoring position.

But it wasn’t only offense that was less than its best for the hosts.

An error by sophomore third baseman Casey Stevenson on a ground ball to start the game, led to an unearned run off UCI starter Bryce Stowell, who is now winless in four Big West Conference starts.

Stowell, who tied his career high with nine strikeouts, surrendered 10 hits, nine of them singles, and was charged with four earned runs, before exiting with two outs in the seventh.

It was the worst start in a month for Stowell, who fell to 5-2 and saw his earned-run average rise from 1.90 to 2.33. The sophomore right-hander had allowed four earned runs in his previous three starts, spanning 19 innings.

Meanwhile, Riverside starter Matt Larkins was battling his way out of jams by making quality pitches when it mattered most. Larkins, who saw his ERA drop from 4.95 to 4.29, allowed one unearned run in his 5 2/3 innings, during which he gave up five hits and walked three.

“[Larkins] has been good for us,” UC Riverside Coach Doug Smith said. “He has pitched like [he did Saturday] a lot. He has had one bad outing all year. He’s a three-pitch-mix guy who has great poise and he’s a really competitive kid. I thought the real key was when Larkins had the bases loaded in the fifth and was able to get out of it. What makes Matt special is that he has the ability to make that pitch when you really need it, with any of his three pitches.”

Gillespie credited Highlander pitchers, including Larkins, but he clearly would like his team’s chances in a rematch.

“I don’t think we were looking at Cy Young [Friday, when UCI won, 7-2 to open the series] or [Saturday],” Gillespie said. “But, to their credit, they compete. They try to not give you the ball in the middle of the plate.”

Gillespie also praised the first five hitters in the Riverside lineup, who combined to go 10 for 24 with all five runs and four RBIs.

Smith said it was just nice to break through and get a victory, the defending conference champions’ first since April 6.

“We were in dire need,” Smith said. “We’ve really struggled all year and even more so in the last 10 days or so.”

Riverside scored three in the first and single runs in the third and seventh, while UCI managed single tallies in the sixth, eighth and ninth.

UCI had at least one hit in seven innings and put its leadoff hitter aboard in four innings.

Ollie Linton, who went two for five to lead UCI’s eight-hit attack, tripled to open the ninth and Ben Orloff followed with a walk, then quickly stole second. Cusick followed with a run-scoring groundout to shortstop.

Pinch-hitter Brock Bardeen walked with two outs to put the tying run on, but Kelly, a freshman All-American last season who has missed most of the this season with a balky elbow, fanned Fisher to record his team-leading second save.

The series rubber game is today at 1 p.m.

Big West Conference

UC Riverside 5, UC Irvine 3

SCORE BY INNINGS

Larkins, Applebee (6), Kelly (9) and Pellegrino; Stowell, Dufour (7) and Lowenstein. W – Larkins, 5-2. L – Stowell, 4-2. Sv. – Kelly (2). 2B – Asaro (UCI). 3B – Gonzales (UCR); Linton (UCI).

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at [email protected].