Lions show stripes

IRVINE — Loyola Marymount Coach Frank Cruz demanded that his players show at least one stripe on their stirrups Tuesday, not realizing they’d show a few more in a commanding 11-3 nonconference win over host UC Irvine.

The Lions, who came in on a three-game losing streak, had lost five of their last six and seven of their last nine. But, forced to comply with a uniform code that Cruz had let slide until this point, they produced 17 hits, the most this season against a UCI staff that came in second in the nation in earned-run average (2.84).

The first two runs were unearned for the Lions (21-23), but the rest were anything but a fluke. LMU, tied for fifth in the eight-team West Coast Conference, scored 10 runs with two outs to become only the third team to post double-digit runs against what largely was the second line of the UCI pitching staff.

Only Eric Pettis, who surrendered two hits and a run in a mop-up ninth-inning appearance, is among the top five pitchers that have largely led Irvine (28-11) to the No. 13 ranking it took into this week.

Junior Matt Dufour, who came on in relief of first-time starter Tom Calahan, absorbed the loss after allowing three runs, all earned, on five hits in 1 2/3 innings. Dufour had earned the win at Kansas State the previous Tuesday.

Tuesdays had been kind to the Anteaters, who had won six of their first seven Tuesday contests, before being mauled by the Lions.

But that was when sophomore Christian Bergman was available for midweek starting duty. Bergman, who initially reported soreness in his right pitching shoulder after a relief appearance in the April 20 loss to UC Riverside, has not pitched since. The injury, which extended to his elbow, is not believed to be serious, said UCI Coach Mike Gillespie, who termed the problem tendinitis in both the elbow and the shoulder.

Gillespie said Bergman (4-2 with a staff-best 1.41 ERA) will likely not pitch in the three-game Big West Conference series at Cal State Northridge that begins Friday.

“The statistics tell us that [the Lions] can hit,” Gillespie said. “Their problem has been front-line weekend pitching.”

UCI has not had the same problem. But until Bergman returns, a strong mid-week starter will continue to be on its wish list.

Calahan, a sophomore lefty, did not allow an earned run in 3 1/3 innings. But after inducing a one-out, bases-loaded line drive to shortstop Ben Orloff in the first, he saw Orloff throw wildly to second in an attempt to double off the retreating runner.

Two runs scored on the error, just the fourth this season by UCI’s defensive wizard.

UCI tied it in the second on RBI groundouts by Casey Stevenson and Ryan Fisher.

Down, 5-2, UCI scored one in the fifth on an RBI double by Ollie Linton.

But that was all the damage done against three LMU pitchers.

Another UCI highlight was a sliding catch made in foul territory down the left-field line by sophomore left fielder Francis Larson, who covered about 30 yards to record the out in the seventh inning.

Orloff doubled in the eighth inning to extend his hitting streak to 14 games, but no Anteater had more than one hit.

The UCI lineup is also without sophomore first baseman Jeff Cusick, who went down with a sore shoulder after the first game of the recent five-game road trip.

Cusick’s injury is also not believed to be serious, but when he may return is uncertain, Gillespie said. Cusick is hitting .339 with 23 RBIs.

LMU starter Lee Roberts allowed six hits and three runs in seven innings, walking two and striking out five. He earned the win to improve to 2-3. He lowered his ERA to 5.31.

Cruz said Roberts and some consistent timely hitting were keys to the victory.

“I don’t think [showing one stripe on their socks] had anything to do with it,” Cruz said. “But we will be dressed the same way Friday [when they play host to Santa Clara].”

The 11 runs were the second most scored against UCI this season. Only Cal State Fullerton scored more in a 12-5 win April 4.

Nonconference

Loyola Marymount 11, UC Irvine 3

SCORE BY INNINGS

Roberts, Eusebio (8), Connolly (9) and Bernardy; Calahan, Dufour (4), Slaught (6), Necke (8), Pettis (9) and Lowenstein. W – Roberts, 2-3. L – Dufour, 1-2. 2B – LaMonda (LMU), Songco (LMU), Wheeler (LMU), Linton (UCI), Orloff (UCI).

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at barry.faulkner@latimes.com.