Hoechlin caps Anteaters’ comeback

RENO — Tyler Hoechlin’s acting credits include the movie “Road to Perdition” and the television series “7th Heaven,” but the UC Irvine redshift freshman second baseman played the role of hitting hero in the Anteaters’ 8-7 come-from-behind nonconference baseball victory over Nevada Saturday at Peccole Field.

Hoechlin doubled down the left-field line with one out in the ninth inning to score Dillon Bell with the winning run, capping a comeback that began with the visitors trailing, 6-0, after seven innings.

Pinch-hitter Sean Madigan opened the UCI ninth with a walk and senior Brock Bardeen was then hit by a pitch. Junior Eric Deragisch’s sacrifice bunt advanced both runners, who then scored to tie the score, 7-7, on Bell’s double down the right-field line.

No. 22-ranked UCI (2-0) scored five runs in the eighth to get back in the game. Bardeen, pinch-hitting, walked to open the frame, then reached second on a groundout. Bell and Hoechlin each were hit by pitches to load the bases. Junior preseason All-American Ollie Linton singled in two runs and advanced to second on the throw from the outfield. Junior shortstop Ben Orloff then doubled down the left-field line to plate two more, then scored on freshman Ryan Fisher’s single to right.

Nevada (0-2) scored three in the fourth, two in the fifth and one in the sixth, as UCI starter Bryce Stowell, a redshirt freshman transfer from Pepperdine making UCI debut, surrendered seven hits and five runs, three earned, in 4 2/3 innings. Stowell struck out four and did not walk a batter.

UCI reliever Kyle Necke allowed a run on three hits in one relief inning, before Tom Calahan and Crosby Slaught combined for 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Sophomore Eric Pettis allowed a run in the eighth that put the Wolf Pack up, 7-5, but worked out of a ninth-inning jam to preserve his first victory of the season.

Nevada’s Kevin Roland tripled with one out in the ninth, but was left holding the bag as Pettis struck out Tyson Jaquez swinging and David Ciarlo grounded out to second to end the game.

No Anteater had more than one hit as Nevada outhit the visitors, 12-7.

UCI also committed the game’s only three errors.

The two teams are scheduled to complete the series today at noon.

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Nonconference

UC Irvine 8, Nevada 7

SCORE BY INNINGS

Stowell, Necke (5), Calahan (6), Slaught (7), Pettis (8) and Lowenstein, Donabedian (9); Garcia, Achelpoph (8), Bautista (9) and Jaquez. W – Pettis, 1-0. L – Bautista, 0-1. 2B – Orloff (UCI), Deragisch (UCI), Bell (UCI), Hoechlin (UCI), Sadoian (N) 2. 3B – Redland (N). HR – Rodriguez (N).

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