Anteaters handle Matadors

IRVINE — When UC Irvine senior Eric Deragisch stole home in the fourth inning of the Anteaters’ 7-1 Big West Conference baseball win over visiting Cal State Northridge Friday night, it was more than the height of excitement.

As Deragisch later explained it, the circumstances surrounding the dramatic theft — with two outs and a 1-2 count on Francis Larson, who eventually struck out — also reflect upon the top-ranked Anteaters’ place atop the Big West standings.

“You never know what could happen,” Deragisch said. “The hardest part is getting way off [third base as the pitcher goes into his windup], because you think you’re way off and you’re really not.”

Gillespie’s explanation also dovetailed with where UCI (32-11, 12-1 in conference) finds itself, with 11 conference games remaining, in its quest for the program’s first Big West title.

“It’s one of those times when you play the percentages,” Gillespie said of calling for the steal of home. “You’ve got a lead to work with and you think ‘We’ll see what happens.’ ”

The Anteaters, in fact, maintain a four-game lead in the loss column on second-place Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (10-5), which does not play a conference opponent this weekend.

And at 12-1, having already played perennial title contenders Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State, as well as Cal Poly and 2007 conference champion UC Riverside, the remaining schedule appears compatible with, just as Deragsich experienced, a safe passage home.

“We don’t get the chance to [attempt to steal home] anymore, because nobody throws from a windup,” Gillespie said. “Everybody thinks its nuts, because there are two strikes, and if it doesn’t work, the inning is over. I wish I had an accurate count, but over the years, let’s say [my teams] have attempted it 50 times. And we’ve been safe 48. Because, what happens is — and it shouldn’t happen because all a guy has to do is throw a strike — there’s a sense of panic in [the pitcher’s delivery].”

It may have been such panic that caused a breaking ball to bounce in the dirt and carom off the catcher in front of the plate, as Deragisch slid in safety to the delight of an appreciative home crowd.

The nature of Friday’s win, over a Northridge team (18-27, 4-12) that most would say UCI should beat, indicates UCI is neither panicking nor stressing over its relative “easy” road home in conference play.

Junior left-hander Danny Bibona allowed four hits and one run in eight innings, striking out six and walking one.

Sophomore left fielder Ryan Fisher went two for two with two doubles and two walks, while Deragisch went two for three with a walk, three runs and two stolen bases, to lead a lineup that included at least one hit from eight of nine starters.

“And, once again, we had five real impressive defensive plays, including the one Bibona made,” said Gillespie, who also singled out freshman center fielder Tommy Reyes, senior shortstop Ben Orloff and junior first baseman Jeff Cusick for stellar glove work.

“Offensively, it was nothing spectacular, but there was a big hit there, a double [actually five by the ’Eaters] here, and a sacrifice fly there,” Gillespie said. “So, I liked it. I thought it was a good win.”

Larson and junior right fielder Dillon Bell drove in two runs apiece. Larson now has a team-leading 41 RBIs, one more than his team-leading total of 2008 (in 34 fewer at-bats than last season).

Deragisch, who raised his average to .388, said taking anything for granted is not in the cards.

“Coach Gillespie tells us all the time, even in practice, that we can’t let down, no matter who we’re playing,” Deragisch said. “We’re not playing the team, we’re playing the game. We’re playing a dugout that’s not there; it’s a nameless, faceless opponent. It could be Fullerton, it could be whoever. I mean, we have to just be ready to go 100% every single day.”

The same is obviously true for any UCI runner taking a lead from third base.

Big West Conference

UC Irvine 7, Cal State Northridge 1

SCORE BY INNINGS

Juarez, Tate (3), Schoening (5), Jolicoeur, DeBoo (8) and Hannick; Bibona, Necke (9) and Larson. W – Bibona, 8-1. L – Juarez, 4-5. 2B – Bell (UCI), Fisher (UCI) 2, Shaeffer (UCI), Cusick (UCI), Pineda (CSN).

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