College baseball: UCI completes sweep

The UC Irvine baseball team came from behind in the bottom of the

eighth inning to defeat nonconference visitor St. Mary’s College, 4-3,

and extend its winning streak to six games.

UCI loaded the bases in the eighth and pinch-hitter Gregg Wallis

singled up the middle to push two runs across and give the Anteaters a

4-3 advantage.

St. Mary’s got on the board in the top of the third when UCI starting

pitcher Brett Smith’s wild pitch scored designated hitter Jeff

Cunningham.

UCI center fielder Jon Horwitz hit a bases-loaded single in the bottom

of the fourth to drive in designated hitter Chris Miller and third

baseman Steve Guthrie to give the Anteaters a 2-1 lead.

The Gaels tied the game in the fifth inning when Jason Waugh’s doubled

in Nick Conte. St. Mary’s added a run in the sixth when Brett Wayne

delivered an RBI triple down the right-field line to give the Gaels a 3-2

lead.

Reliever Jon Koller was credited with the win after pitching one

inning and giving up one walk. UCI left-hander Keith Raulinaitis recorded

his first save, inducing a groundout to end the game.

Gael starter Eric Bowden (0-2) pitched 7 1/3 innings, striking out

five, but allowing four runs on six hits.

Nonconference

UC Irvine 4, St. Mary’s 3

St. Mary’s 001 011 000 - 3 3 0

UC Irvine 000 200 20X -- 4 7 1

Bowden, Dobrinich (8) and Conte, Callen; Smith, Swanson (5), Alstot

(7), Koller (9) and Raulinaitis (9) and Werhun. W - Koller, 1-2. L -

Bowden, 0-2. Sv - Raulinaitis (1). 2B - Waugh (SM). 3B - Wayne (SM).