Anteaters rally for triumph

IRVINE — Junior right-hander Kyle Necke gave up just one hit in three scoreless relief innings, allowing host UC Irvine to rally for a 6-4 nonconference victory over Loyola Marymount Monday at Anteater Ballpark.

Necke struck out four and did not walk a batter, before handing the ball to junior All-American closer Eric Pettis, who worked a perfect ninth for his 10th save, second most in the country.

Necke, who has now worked five straight scoreless innings, earned his first win in three decisions this season.

Junior catcher Francis Larson broke a 4-4 tie with a double that drove in freshman Ronnie Shaeffer, who had doubled with two outs in the seventh.

Jeff Cusick’s sacrifice fly added an insurance run for the Anteaters (23-9), who took their first lead on a three-run double by junior Casey Stevenson in the fifth.

LMU (22-16), coached by former UCI assistant Jason Gill, rallied to tie with a run in the sixth.

Shaeffer went three for five and scored twice to pace UCI’s 14-hit attack.

Stevenson was two for three, as was senior Eric Deragisch, who tripled and scored on an error in the first to cut into a 2-0 deficit.

Larson and freshman DJ Crumlich were both two for four for the winners.

UCI junior starter Cory Hamilton didn’t get out of the first, allowing two runs on one hit and walking three.

Matt Dufour followed on the mound for UCI, allowing just one earned run in 4 1/3 innings,despite giving up 10 hits.

Necke threw 32 strikes among his 48 pitches and Pettis, who has two saves and a win in the last five days, issued just four balls in his 15 pitches.

Stevenson’s double down the left-field line helped UCI salvage what might have been a disastrous inning in the fifth.

Senior shortstop Ben Orloff and Deragisch led off the inning with singles, but both runners were erased on a 5-4-2-5-2 double play turned on Jeff Cusick’s ground ball to third.

Shaeffer followed with a single, as did Larson, setting the table for Stevenson.

Larson now has 25 RBIs to lead the Anteaters, who have now taken two of three from LMU.

Crumlich and Olson singled to start the eighth and advanced on Orloff’s sacrifice bunt. Deragisch was intentionally walked to load the bases and Cusick lifted a scoring fly ball to center to finalize the scoring.

Coach Mike Gillespie’s Anteaters have now won 10 of their last 12, outscoring opponents, 81-48, in the process.

UCI visits San Diego today at 3 p.m.

Nonconference

UC Irvine 6,

Loyola Marymount 4

SCORE BY INNINGS

Carreon, Eusebio (6) and Enos; Hamilton, Dufour (1), Necke (6), Pettis (9) and Larson. W – Necke, 1-2. L – Eusebio, 3-4. Sv – Pettis (10). 2B – Simonitsch (LMU), J. Johnson (LMU), Enos (LMU), Wheeler (LMU), Stevenson (UCI), Larson (UCI), Shaeffer (UCI). 3B – J. Johnson (LMU), Deragisch (UCI).