By Miguel Mike Medina
Photo Credit: UC Irvine Athletics
No. 12 UC Irvine’s five-run first inning was enough damage to put away No. 15 UCLA Bruins. The Anteaters defeated the Bruins 5-3 on Tuesday night.
UC Irvine’s offense came through in the first inning, but their pitching also deserves some credit. The Anteaters’ pitching shut down the Bruins’ lineup in seven of nine innings.
Ricky Ojeda picked up his ninth win of the season and remains unbeaten. Danny Suarez recorded five strikeouts and allied just one hit through two innings. Max Marlin had three strikeouts in one inning of work.
Shortstop Colin Yeaman and right fielder Chase Call led the offense for the Anteaters after connecting two-run home runs individually in the first inning. Designated hitter Anthony Martinez went 2-for-3. Third baseman Zach Fjelstad went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
The Bruins’ pitchers Josh Alger, CJ Bott, and Ryan Rissas combined for eight strikeouts. Left fielder Dean West finished the night going 3-for-5 with three hits. Pinch hitter Aidan Espinoza is responsible for collecting two of the Bruins’ three RBIs.
The Bruins made the game enjoyable and tried to make a comeback, but the Anteaters’ pitching stopped their momentum.
The Anteaters improve to 29-9, 16-2 in Big West Conference play. The Bruins fall to 29-11, 13-5 in Big Ten Conference play.
The Bruins will begin a Big Ten series against Penn State on Friday. The Anteaters will play Cal Poly on Friday for a three game road series.
Miguel Mike Medina is the publisher of The MMM Journal. He can be reached at medinamiguelmike@gmail.com and themmmjournal@gmail.com
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