UCI goes deep for win

STOCKTON — Eric Deraigsch belted a two out, two-run home run in the ninth inning to snap a tie and give the No. 1-ranked UC Irvine baseball team a 5-4 Big West Conference win over Pacific Saturday at Klein Family Field.

The home run was Deragisch’s second of the season, but the opportunity only presented itself after shortstop Ben Orloff beat the throw on a two-out, infield single to extend the inning for Deragisch.

Deragisch, facing Pacific reliever Mark McCain, jumped on an 0-1 curve ball and lifted it over the left-field fence for a 5-3 lead.

Christian Bergman pitched six innings in the no-decision for UCI (36-11, 16-1 in the Big West), limiting Pacific to three runs on eight hits while striking out three. Brock Bardeen picked up for Bergman and faced the minimum in two innings to earn the win and climb to 5-0. Eric Pettis gave up a home run to Mike Walker to lead off the bottom of the ninth but recovered and struck out the side to pick up his 15th save.

Reyes led the Anteaters, going three for four with an RBI, while Orloff, Larson and Shaeffer each had two hits apiece.

— From Staff Reports

Big West Conference

UC Irvine 5, Pacific 4

Bergman, Bardeen (7), Pettis (9) and Shaeffer; Rowse, McCain (8), Berolzheimer (9) and Wideman. W – Bardeen, 5-0. L – McCain, 2-2. Sv – Pettis (15). 2B – Reyes (UCI); Brown (UOP), McKeever (UOP). HR – Deragisch (UCI); Walker (UOP).