Official Athletic Site of UC Irvine Anteaters

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Sat July 05, 2008

Francis Larson had three hits, including his team-high seventh home run

Pacific Spoils UC Irvine Comeback to Force Rubber Game

Anteaters tie game, fall in 10th

May 10, 2008

IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine scored five runs in the ninth to tie the game at 9-9 but fell in the 10th inning as the Anteaters were defeated 10-9 by Pacific Saturday in a Big West Conference game at Anteater Ballpark. The loss dropped UCI to 32-13 overall and 9-8 in league play while the Tigers improved to 11-36 overall and 3-17 in the Big West.

Brock Bardeen's double in the ninth cleared the bases for the Anteaters, who broke through six scoreless inning with four runs in the seventh and five in the ninth. Bardeen was 1 for 3 with three RBI while Dillon Bell led the team, batting 4 for 6 with an RBI and a run scored. Francis Larson and Casey Stevenson both drove in a pair of runs with the duo combining for six hits.

Pacific batted around in the top of the first and scored four runs, capped by a two-run single to left by Brett Manning. The Tigers padded their lead in the second as Nick Longmire hit a two-run home run over the centerfield wall to stake Pacific to a 6-0 lead. Rightfielder Mike McKeever drew a bases-loaded walk in the seventh and was followed by Manning's sacrifice fly to right as Pacific built an 8-0 advantage.

UCI brought nine batters to the plate in the seventh, scoring four runs in the inning. Stevenson hit his second home run of the season to lead off the frame. Pinch hitter Sean Madigan and Bell each came up with clutch RBI singles while Larson drove in a run on a sacrifice fly to cut into the lead, 8-4.

Trailing 9-4 in the ninth, UCI plated five runs, all with two outs. Larson's two-out solo home run started the rally for the team. An RBI hit by Stevenson was followed by a single from Josh Tavelli to load the bases for Bardeen. Ollie Linton was intentionally walked to extend the inning but reliever Thomas Berolzheimer induced a fly-ball out to escape with the tie.

UCI closer Eric Pettis struck out the first two batters in the top of the 10th before issuing a base on balls to Joe Oliveira. Shortstop Adam Ching hit a 2-2 offering to right as Oliveira crossed the plate as the eventual game-winning run.

Larson belted a one-out double in the bottom of the 10th but was left stranded as Tiger reliever David Rowse retired Bell and pinch hitter Tony Asaro to pick up his first save of the season.

Berolzheimer was credited with the win, improving to 1-2. The right-hander gave up five runs on five hits in one inning of work. Starter Mark McCain held UCI to three runs (one earned) on six hits in six innings in the no-decision. Longmire and Manning each drove in three runs in the win.

Pettis fell to 3-2 with the loss after giving up a run on one hit and striking out three in one inning. Starter Bryce Stowell gave up eight runs on nine hits in 6.1 innings while striking out nine.