Anteaters win series at UCSB

SANTA BARBARA — One day after leaving the bases loaded in the ninth inning of a one-run loss, the UC Irvine baseball team turned the tables on host UC Santa Barbara Sunday, stranding three in the ninth to claim a 7-6 victory in the rubber game of the three-game Big West Conference series.

UCI senior reliever Dylan Axelrod induced a game-ending flyout to right field to preserve the win, which gives the No. 18-ranked Anteaters (28-11-1, 7-5 in conference) the series victory over the Gauchos (17-20, 5-4). UCI won Friday, 10-5, but lost Saturday, 6-5.

Axelrod entered with a man on first and one out in relief of Daniel Bibona, who allowed just one hit in 2 2/3 innings after taking over for starter Eric Pettis. Axelrod allowed two hits and a walk as the Gauchos scored one run to pull within one. But he worked out of the jam to record his fourth save of the season.

UCI junior third baseman Tyler Vaughn led the offense, going two for four with three RBIs, including his first homer of the season. His solo dinger broke a scoreless tie in the second inning and UCI scored five in the third to seize a 6-0 advantage.

But the Gauchos scored two in the third, one in the fifth and two more in the sixth to pull within 6-5.

UCI added what turned out to be a valuable insurance run in the ninth. Junior catcher Aaron Lowenstein doubled down the right-field line to start the rally and advanced to third on Ollie Linton’s infield single. Taylor Holiday followed with an RBI bunt single.

Senior Matt Morris had a two-run single in the third inning for the Anteaters, who bypass UCSB and move into fifth place in the Big West, behind Cal State Fullerton (7-2), Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (8-4), Long Beach State and UC Riverside (both 4-2).

Big West Conference

UC Irvine 7, UC Santa Barbara 6

Score by Innings

Pettis, Bibona (6, Axerod (9) and Loenstein; Braun, Segal (9) and McMurray. W -- Pettis, 1-0. L -- Braun, 1-6. Sv -- Axelrod (4). 2B -- Lowenstein (UCI), Zaunich (UCSB), Carlson (UCSB). HR -- Vaughn (UCI), Rose (UCSB).