College baseball: UCI wins seventh straight

IRVINE - UC Irvine pinch-hitter Erik Johnson’s infield single

scored Steve Guthrie from third base for the winning run Friday night as

the host Anteaters rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning

to defeat Santa Clara University, 2-1, in nonconference baseball action.

The Anteaters (8-4), who have won seven straight games, opened the

ninth with a single by catcher Chris Miller and pinch-runner Brett Dalton

moved to second on an out.

After the second out, and Santa Clara leading, 1-0, Dalton scored on

an error to tie the game.

The game was scoreless through seven with Santa Clara starter Chad

Fillinger working on a three-hit shutout and UCI starter Paul French

spinning a four-hitter.

But Santa Clara (3-6) scored in the eighth when UCI’s Jon Koller

balked with Jack Headley on third.

Koller, a freshman, picked up the win in relief for the Zots.