College Baseball: Koss effective for UCI
In a string of unlikely events that had been escalating in favor of UC Irvine’s opponents, perhaps if figured the Anteater with the best defensive reputation was responsible for his team’s biggest at-bat of the conference-opening series.
Freshman Christian Koss, who was 10 for 58 (a .172 average) before singling in the sixth, added a second hit with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth to propel the ‘Eaters to a 3-2 Big West Conference triumph over Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Saturday at Anteater Ballpark.
Koss’ hit created the first walk-off win of the season for UCI (12-11, 1-1 in conference), halted a six-game losing streak, and avenged a conference-opening 3-2 loss in 10 innings to the Mustangs Friday night.
Koss’ drive over the drawn-in center fielder’s head also ended a string of futility in which UCI had been zero for 14 with runners in scoring position in the series. In all, UCI batters stepped to the plate 21 times with runners in scoring position. And 21 times, a hit was not the result.
Until Koss came through.
“It’s a long season, but struggling at the plate is difficult,” said Koss, a high school shortstop who has played second and third base and whom Coach Mike Gillespie has called a special defender. “But I like to pride myself on my defense. I may not be doing so well at the plate, but the fact that I can help defensively is very much important, if not more.”
Adam Alcantara opened the UCI ninth with a single and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Parker Coss. Cole Kreuter was intentionally walked and Matt Reitano followed with a walk to load the bases.
UCI, which was outhit, 14-8, left the bases loaded in the eighth inning, after stranding just two runners in the first seven innings.
Cal Poly (9-17, 1-1) stranded 10 and did not have an extra-base hit.
UCI starting pitcher Louis Raymond had a career-long outing, working 7 2/3 innings. He did not walk a batter and consistently executed damage control.
Twice UCI ended innings with double plays, while catchers Alex Guenette and Reitano both threw out runners trying to steal second.
Shortstop Mikey Duarte, who made a costly 10th-inning error on Friday, made a sparkling defensive play, diving to his right to snare a ground ball, then springing to his feet to get an out in the seventh inning.
Koss, ironically, made the only error for UCI, which entered the weekend leading the nation with a .986 fielding percentage, and now has just 14 errors this season.
The Mustangs scored single runs in the fourth and sixth innings, but UCI tied it in the sixth, with the benefit of some good fortune.
Koss opened the sixth-inning rally with a single and Evan Cassolato followed with a hit-and-run single that put runners on the corners. Duarte’s groundout to second drove in a run and advanced Cassolato to second.
Cassolato went to third on another groundout and scored when Cal Poly starter Spencer Howard appeared to lose his balance and aborted his delivery in mid-motion, resulting in a balk.
Senior closer Calvin Faucher, who blew a save and took the loss on Tuesday against Loyola Marymount, pitched the final 1 1/3 to earn his first victory of the season.
Cassolato also had two hits for UCI, which entered the weekend with the top team batting average in the Big West.
“We’re fighting,” Koss said. “We’re a bunch of fighters. The game is nine innings long and we try to stay through it.”
Koss said the same may be true of his offensive improvement.
“A lot of guys before my at-bat were telling me ‘Right guy, right spot,’” Koss said. “So they have confidence in me, which is huge, and I have confidence in myself. The last couple games, I’ve been getting more comfortable at the plate.”
The series concludes on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Big West Conference
UC Irvine 3, Cal Poly SLO 2
SCORE BY INNINGS
CPSLO 000 101 000 – 2 14 0
UCI 000 001 001 – 3 8 1
Howard, Shelton (8), Lee (8), Colon (9) and Meyer; Raymond, Glazier (8), Faucher (8) and Guenette, Reitano (9). W – Faucher, 1-2. L – Lee, 2-2. 2B – Coss (UCI).
Twitter: @BarryFaulkner5
