UCI’s Bibona a game-changer in 5-2 win

IRVINE — Much has been made about the new administration in Washington, D. C. and its promise for change.

But change has long been the thing on Friday night for the UC Irvine baseball team.

And, well, nothing has changed this season, as junior left-hander Danny Bibona, with his swing-stuttering changeup, has assumed the Friday-night starting assignment from former All-American Scott Gorgen, whose change was generally considered the best in college baseball in 2008.

Bibona’s off-speed offering is so devastating, it adds venom to a fastball that fails to impress professional scouts, or their radar guns.

But hitters from visiting Cal Poly San Luis Obispo were duly impressed, as Bibona pitched seven strong innings to key the Anteaters’ 5-2 victory in the Big West Conference opener at Anteater Ballpark.

The win improved No. 10-ranked UCI to 14-7, while dropping the No. 19-ranked Mustangs to 17-5, ending their eight-game win streak.

“I think he was, once again, money,” UCI Coach Mike Gillespie said of Bibona (4-1), who struck out eight and allowed just four hits in his final six innings, after surrendering two first-inning runs on three hits.

“He really was successful with his changeup and once he’s successful with his changeup, he gets guys with that fastball. People don’t think he can get them with that fastball, because it isn’t 95 [mph, more consistently around 86 to 88 mph, Gillespie noted]. And, he throws a lot of good strikes with [the fastball].”

Bibona said he threw a good strike to Cal Poly right fielder Bobby Crocker, the second batter of the game who drove it over the 405-foot sign atop the center-field fence for a home run.

Cal Poly, which came in hitting .337 as a team — 42 points higher than UCI — added a run on a hit batsman and two softly hit singles, the latter of which ticked off Bibona’s glove for an infield hit that made it 2-0.

But that was all the Mustangs could muster against Bibona and junior All-American closer Eric Pettis.

“That’s a team that clearly can hit, “ Gillespie said of Cal Poly. “They’re geared up from the time they come up the steps from the dugout. We certainly hope we get the same kind of mix of pitches [today] and [Sunday], because if we have to throw 3-1 or 3-2 fastballs, it could be a long day.”

Bibona , who had thrown 86 pitches through five innings, finished with 116. He walked only one and stranded eight runners on base, displaying his trademark poise after the first-inning flare-up.

Bibona also showed impressive stamina, Gillespie said.

“We had to ride him like a mule tonight,” Gillespie said, “more than we really wanted to. He threw 116 pitches and we’ve gone over 110 maybe four times [in two seasons] since I’ve been here. But on his 115th pitch, he got a called third strike on a fastball up under the guy’s hands and I mean it looked like it had plenty of juice on it. That was impressive to me.”

The UCI offense was less impressive, but took advantage of most of the few opportunities Cal Poly ace DJ Mauldin provided.

Senior shortstop Ben Orloff went two for four with a run batted in, as did junior catcher Francis Larson.

Senior outfielder Eric Deragisch was also two for four and freshmen Ronnie Shaeffer and DJ Crumlich each had an RBI.

UCI capitalized on an error by Maudlin, failing to handle a routine flip from the first baseman to first base, to score two unearned runs to take a 3-2 lead in the third inning.

“I am mindful of the fact that we caught a couple breaks tonight,” Gillespie said. “Five runs are not very many and we got help to get to five. I think it’s a very, very important win.”

The importance was emphasized when reliever Cory Hamilton was pulled after nine pitches — with a 3-2 count on his second hitter — in favor of Pettis with no outs and a man on in the eighth.

“That was a desperation move there,” said Gillespie, who has seen UCI relievers other than Pettis struggle all season.

Pettis needed just four pitches to record three outs. After a ball to finish the second walk credited to Hamilton, a Cal Poly batter was called out for interfering with catcher Francis Larson’s pickoff throw to second base.

Two pitches later, Pettis induced a double-play grounder to short.

Pettis, who earned his sixth save, ended the ninth with a strikeout.

The three-game series resumes today at 1 p.m.

Big West Conference

UC Irvine 5, Cal Poly 2

SCORE BY INNINGS

Mauldin, DeVincenzi (8) and Brayton; Bibona, Hamilton (8), Pettis (8) and Larson. W – Bibona, 4-1. L – Mauldin, 3-2. Sv – Pettis (6). 2B - Orloff (UCI), Cusick (UCI), Crumlich (UCI). HR – Crocker (CP).

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