‘Eaters search for arms

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LOS ANGELES — A midweek nonconference baseball game can give a program a chance to show off its pitching depth.

For UC Irvine, which was defeated, 8-3, at UCLA Tuesday, it was more of an open audition. And resumes are still being accepted.

Six Anteaters pitchers took the bump against the Bruins, with senior left-hander Noel Avison the only one to improve his stock with Coach Mike Gillespie and pitching coach Ted Silva.

Avison, who entered with a 6.00 earned-run average in 12 innings, came on in relief with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh inning.

He promptly struck out pinch-hitter Chris Amezquita looking, then fanned senior slugger Cody Decker to get out of the jam.

Jams were more troublesome for starter Cory Hamilton, who allowed three runs in 2 1/3 innings to take the loss, as well as freshmen Matt Summers and Maverick Olivares.

The two freshmen, both of whom threw just one inning apiece last week in their respective collegiate pitching debuts, combined to allow three runs on four hits in 1 1/3 innings in front of 535 at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

Summers, who pitched a perfect inning in his debut against Loyola Marymount, surrendered two runs on two hits, while walking three, in just one-third of an inning.

Olivares, who gave up a run on two hits in his debut, did the same against the Bruins.

Senior Matt Dufour allowed one run on four hits in 2 2/3 innings and junior Kyle Necke gave up one run on two hits in his only inning.

And the damage could have been worse, as the Bruins (12-17), who lashed 15 hits, left 14 runners on base.

UCLA used four pitchers to hand No. 5-ranked UCI (19-9) its second straight defeat.

Bruins starter Garrett Claypool and Rob Rasmussen, both of whom went three innings, allowed just one earned run each and combined for eight strikeouts.

Erik Goeddel and Gavin Brooks combined for three innings of scoreless relief and each fanned two ’Eaters.

UCI pitchers issued eight walks and UCLA posted its first game of the season without issuing a walk.

UCI scored single runs in the first and second innings to take a 2-0 lead against Claypool.

Freshman Ronnie Shaeffer drove home Ben Orloff with a single in the first and sophomore Ryan Fisher belted his third home run of the season with two outs in the second.

UCLA cut into the lead with a run in the second, then took the lead for good when Decker poked a two-run homer to the opposite field in right center in the third inning.

UCLA scored in six of its eight innings, leaving Gillespie and Silva still searching for a supporting cast for weekend starters Danny Bibona, Christian Bergman and Crosby Slaught, as well as All-American closer Eric Pettis.

Junior Jeff Cusick went two for three with a run batted in, while Orloff and freshman Jordan Leyland, auditioning a bit himself with his first start in left field, had two hits apiece to key the visitors’ 10-hit attack.

Leyland also made a diving catch of a fly ball in left field to highlight UCI’s errorless defense.

Junior catcher Francis Larson went hitless to end his hitting streak at 12 games, while senior center fielder Eric Deragisch struck out four times in five hitless at-bats.

UCI freshman third baseman DJ Crumlich struck out twice and was hitless in three at-bats.

UCI, atop the Big West Conference standings with a 5-1 record, plays host to Big West rival Long Beach State for a three-game series that begins Thursday at 6 p.m.

Nonconference

UCLA 8, UC Irvine 3

SCORE BY INNINGS

Hamilton, Dufour (3), Necke (6), Summers (7), Avison (7), Olivares (8) and Larson; Claypool, Rasmussen (4), Goeddel (7), Brooks (8) and Aielli. W – Rasmussen, 2-2. L – Hamilton, 0-2. 2B – Uribe (UCLA) 2, Murray (UCLA). HR – Fisher (UCI), Decker (UCLA).

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