Tigers’ series victory signals UCI struggles

IRVINE — In a sport steeped in superstition, with a consensus concession to the existence of the baseball gods, diamond fortune can be both kind and cruel.

For nearly the last two years, UC Irvine benefited from the former, including an astounding 22-2 Big West Conference run last season en route to the program’s first Big West title.

That trend continued in a conference-opening three-game sweep at Cal State Northridge this spring. And after a Jeff Cusick walk-off home run in the series opener against Cal State Fullerton on April 9, the Anteaters had won 28 of their last 30 conference games, dating back to the end of the 2008 campaign.

But fortune’s persistent smile has turned to a frown upon UCI, which has now dropped two straight conference series at home and lost four of its last five conference games.

The Anteaters (20-13, 5-4 in conference), who fell out of the Baseball America top-25 poll last week for the first time since February of 2008, had won 13 straight Big West series, before the last two weekends.

The latest dose of humility came at the hands of the University of the Pacific, which posted a 7-2 triumph Sunday to claim the series, two games to one.

It was the biggest series win for the Tigers (22-12, 5-4) since they claimed two of three at then-No. 6-ranked Cal State Fullerton, April 17-19 last season.

“To win a series on the road in Southern California against a great team like Irvine is big for us,” said Pacific Coach and former major leaguer Ed Sprague.

A two-out error by UCI shortstop Tommy Reyes, his team-high seventh miscue of the season, led to three unearned runs in the fourth inning Sunday, which extended Pacific’s lead to 7-0.

UCI starter Eric Pettis, who started the season 5-0, absorbed the loss for the second straight Sunday, surrendering nine hits in six innings. He struck out seven, walked one posted four scoreless innings.

UCI relievers Ruben Orosco, Matt Summers and Kyle Necke combined for three scoreless innings, but UCI managed only single runs in the sixth and eighth innings.

The Anteaters left the bases loaded in the second, fourth and eighth innings and stranded 11 for the second straight day.

“It’s certainly frustrating,” UCI Coach Mike Gillespie said. “[Sunday] was, I think, a pretty classic illustration of giving a team that can hit some extra opportunities. We had chances to be out of innings and then they exploited their extra opportunities in a big way. I really am not unhappy with any of our pitching. I think the pitching did well.”

For the second straight day, UCI lined into a double play and grounded into a double play.

UCI senior center fielder Dillon Bell personified the lack of clutch hitting for UCI. He came up three times with the bases loaded, but lined out, flied out and hit into a fielder’s choice.

“I guess what goes around, comes around,” Gillespie said. “Take last year for example, clearly a great year, and we got the breaks. To be honest and fair about it, our flairs dropped in, or they kicked one in the ninth, or we got the umpire’s call. Along with playing well, we were dealt more than our fair share of good fortune.

“It’s frustrating, but I think the only good choice is to keep plugging,” said Gillespie, whose team visits San Diego State tonight at 6 with a chance to avenge a 6-5 nonconference home loss to the Aztecs on April 6. “That’s best done by stringing together some quality at-bats. The formula is simple. It’s really pitch well, make them earn what they get on defense and make things happen for yourselves on offense.”

Reyes helped make things happen for UCI Sunday, driving in two runs while going one for three.

Sophomore designated hitter Ronnie Shaeffer went three for four, while Cusick went two for five to extend his hitting streak to 24 games. Cusick, now hitting .392 and leading the team with five homers and 35 RBIs, was six for 12 in the series and eight for 16 in four games last week.

Ryan Fisher came off the bench to go two for two.

Big West Conference

Pacific 7, UC Irvine 2

SCORE BY INNINGS

Hummel, Berolzheimer (8),. Richardson (9) and Oliveira; Pettis, Orosco (7), Summers (7), Necke (9) and Larson. W – Hummel, 4-2. L – Pettis, 5-2. 2B – Christopher (UOP), Martin (UOP), Haberman (UOP). 3B – Christopher (UOP).