College Baseball: Aztecs defeat ‘Eaters
Visiting San Diego State used a little extra to dampen UC Irvine’s baseball home opener Tuesday night.
The Aztecs, who had four extra-base hits in their first three games, all losses to Oregon, had five of their eight hits go for extra bases in a 4-2 triumph that dropped the Anteaters to 2-3.
The visitors lashed four doubles and a solo home run, all of which factored into their scoring against six UCI pitchers.
Offense was once again limited for the ‘Eaters, who produced just six hits and have now scored three or fewer runs three times this season.
Still, the Anteaters used a pair of run-scoring fly balls to create a 2-2 tie through seven innings.
But back-to-back Aztecs doubles to start the eighth plated the game-winner and a two-out single by Tyler Adkison tacked on an insurance run to halt San Diego State’s losing streak at five, dating back to last year’s NCAA Regional.
The only two UCI runners that advanced past second base scored as the hosts stranded seven, one fewer than the winners.
Junior left fielder Adam Alcantara and sophomore center fielder Keston Hiura were both one for three with a sacrifice fly for the ‘Eaters.
Alcantara doubled with two outs in the seventh and senior right fielder Evan Cassolato doubled to open the sixth inning, and later scored on Hiura’s fly to deep center to erase a 2-1 deficit.
Hiura, a preseason All-American, singled with two outs in the eighth to extend his hitting streak to seven games, dating back to last season. He advanced to second when Jonathan Munoz’s bounder to the second baseman was dropped for the Aztecs’ third error.
But senior first baseman Mitchell Holland bounced softly to the pitcher to end that threat.
Wyatt Castro was hit by a pitch with one out in the ninth, but Alcantara flew out to left and pinch-hitter Andrew Martinez struck out as senior right-hander Brian Heldman earned his first save.
UCI was unlucky in the seventh, when pinch-hitter Cameron Bishop, following Alcantara’s double, hit a laser directly at the right fielder for the third out.
One positive for UCI was the defense of sophomore shortstop Parker Coss, whose glove work at that position will now be counted upon, after it was learned Monday that senior Mikey Duarte will need elbow surgery and is lost for the season.
Duarte, who led the team in batting (.345) and hits last season, when he earned first-team All-Big West Conference recognition, had been sidelined since late in preseason workouts. Gillespie had called Duarte the soul of the team.
Coss ranged to his right and threw from deep in the hole to nail Chase Calabuig to lead off the fifth. He also smothered a ball to his left, spun in the dirt and rose quickly to throw to first for the final out in the seventh. Coss, who was one for four with a bunt single, also triggered a double play that ended the Aztecs’ ninth inning.
“That was certainly the highlight for sure,” UCI Coach Mike Gillespie said of Coss’ defense.
Gillespie said the weekend pitching rotation against Nevada will be Elliot Surrey on Friday, Bishop on Saturday and Shaun Vetrovec on Sunday.
Gillespie said Vetrovec, a Newport Harbor High product, provided the highlight among pitchers in a four-game series at San Jose State. Vetrovec threw 70 pitches in seven shutout innings to earn the win. At one point, Gillespie said Vetrovec retired 10 hitters without throwing a ball.
Gillespie also said the hitting of Cassolato, who is six for 13 after opening the season on the bench (.462), has been a the most pleasant development among position players thus far.
UCI plays host to NC Dinos, a Korean team, in an exhibition game Thursday at 6:30 p.m., before opening a three-game nonconference series against Nevada on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
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Nonconference
San Diego State 4, UC Irvine 2
SCORE BY INNINGS
SDSU 010 001 020 – 4 8 3
UCI 000 011 000 – 2 6 1
Pyatt, Douty (6), Erickson (6), Oakley (7), Heldman (8) and Saylor; Sparling, Glazier (4), Bocko (6), Ritchey (7), Vargas (8), Riddle (9) and Mazur, Reitano (8). W – Oakley, 1-0. L – Ritchey, 0-1. Sv – Heldman (1). 2B – Wylie (SDSU) 2, Hensley (SDSU), Cassolato (UCI), Alcantara (UCI), Thornton (SDSU). HR – Verdon (SDSU).
