Erickson saves 4-3 win at Pacific

STOCKTON — UC Irvine senior closer Blair Erickson struck out the first hitter he faced to end the eighth inning and strand two Pacific runners on base. He then fanned two in a scoreless ninth to save the Anteaters’ 4-3 Big West Conference baseball win at UOP Saturday.

It was the first save since April 17 for the NCAA career saves leader (52), who helped starter Wes Etheridge claim his 10th win of the campaign.

The victory also gave No. 13-ranked UCI (33-14-1, 9-5 in conference) the series victory, the 11th series win in 13 tries this season.

Pacific (13-39, 1-16) scored two runs in the eighth to close to within one run, but came up short.

Etheridge recorded the first out of the seventh, before giving way to Bryan Petersen, a junior outfielder who made his first mound appearance since 2005.

But after the first hitter lofted a sacrifice fly to left, the next two singled to drive in runs and bring on Erickson.

UCI’s Ollie Linton was three for four and is eight for nine in the series.

Taylor Holiday, Cody Cipriano and Petersen each added two hits to the ‘Eaters’ 13-hit attack.

Cipriano, Jeff Cusick and Ben Orloff had one RBI apiece for the visitors.

Etheridge struck out eight and walked one to post his first victory since April 14.

Big West Conference

UC Irvine 4, Pacific 3

Score by Innings

UCI 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 - 4 13 1

UOP 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 - 3 9 4

Etheridge, Petersen (8), Erickson (9) and Larson, Lowenstein (9); Pasma, Carnevale (8) and Oliveira, Wideman (8). W -- Etheridge, 10-4. L -- Pasma, 1-6. Sv -- Erickson (12). 2B -- Holiday (UCI) 2. 3B -- Cipriano (UCI), Linton (UCI).