Anteaters claim first Big West series

UC Irvine senior left fielder Chris Klemm slugged a two-run home run

in the first inning and the Anteaters never trailed en route to a 6-4

Big West Conference baseball victory Sunday at UC Santa Barbara.

The victory also clinched the conference-opening series for the

Anteaters, who edged the Gauchos in extra innings Saturday, 7-6,

after dropping Friday’s opener, 7-4.

Klemm, who went 2 for 4 with three RBIs, upped his team-leading

average to .350. He entered the three-game series hitting .335. His

three home runs this spring also lead the Anteaters (13-20, 2-1 in

the Big West Conference).

After UCSB (18-15, 1-2) closed to within 2-1 with a run in the

fourth, UCI erupted for four in the sixth, keyed by RBI singles from

Klemm and sophomore right fielder Jordan Szabo, as well as sacrifice

flies by sophomore third baseman Brett Dalton and freshman first

baseman Matt Falk.

The added margin came in handy, as the Gauchos scored three in the

eighth, as UCI senior starter Paul French began to tire. French had

yielded just one run through seven innings, but was charged for two

more runs. Chris Nicoll came on in relief and was charged with three

hits and one run, but closed the door and finished for his second

save. French, who gave up just four hits and fanned seven in

seven-plus innings, earned his first win in three decisions this

spring.

Dalton, Mark Wagner, Gregg Wallis and B.J. Eucce added hits to the

Anteaters’ seven-hit attack, against three Gaucho hurlers.

By taking 2 of 3, UCI won its first series since taking 2 of 3

from San Diego State in a home-and-home affair completed March 9. UCI

had lost consecutive series to Cal, Washington and Washington State,

before opening the Big West campaign on a positive note.

The Anteaters host Pepperdine, with former Corona del Mar High

standout Ty Harper, Tuesday at 7 p.m., before returning to Big West

competition with a three-game series beginning Friday against

visiting Long Beach State.

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Big West Conference

UCI 6, UCSB 4

Score by Innings

UC Irvine 200 004 000 -- 6 7 0

UCSB 000 100 030 -- 4 7 2

French, Nicoll (8) and Wagner; Vasquez,

Sutherland (7), Morlock (8) and

Ziemendorf. W -- French, 1-2. L --

Vasquez, 2-3. Sv -- Nicoll (2). 2B --

Dalton (UCI), Wagner (UCI), Vogt (UCSB).

HR -- Klemm (UCI)

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