UCI pen closes out 49ers
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IRVINE — After a 6-3 Big West Conference victory that clinched its third conference series win in as many tries, the UC Irvine baseball team stood in shallow left field and repeatedly applauded Friday night.
Much of the standing ovation was likely dedicated to four players who began the game against visiting Long Beach State in the sitting position — on the bench.
Relievers Noel Avison, Brock Bardeen and Eric Pettis combined for three perfect innings to close out starter Christian Bergman’s fifth win in six decisions this season.
And junior outfielder Cory Olson doubled twice in his two at-bats in a reserve role, scoring twice and driving in a run to help the No. 5-ranked Anteaters (21-9, 7-1 in conference) pull away.
“This was a good night,” UCI Coach Mike Gillespie said. “It was a clean game and a lot of good things happened in this game.”
Gillespie credited the bullpen, which, other than Pettis — the All-American junior closer who notched his ninth save, second-most in the nation — has been an area of concern most of the season.
Gillespie also liked solid defense, and some clutch two-out hits that produced runs in the fifth, sixth and eighth innings.
“I thought [junior second baseman] Casey Stevenson did a big-time job turning two double plays [to end the third and the fifth], because both of them were close,” Gillespie said.
Gillespie also praised center fielder Eric Deragisch’s retreating stab of a drive to the warning track in the second inning, as well as senior shortstop Ben Orloff’s scoop, spin and throw to first from the outfield grass near second base for an out in the second.
“I thought we made five or six really good defensive plays,” Gillespie said. “All in all, I have a tough time finding fault with this game. This is one of the nights that you feel real good about.”
Avison and Bardeen are allowing Gillespie and pitching coach Ted Silva to generate really good feelings about the bullpen.
Avison relieved Bergman with no outs in the seventh, with one run in and runners on first and third. The first pitch was a squeeze bunt that plated another run to allow the visitors (14-16, 2-3) to pull within 5-3. But Avison then retired the next two hitters on groundouts on his way to five straight outs.
Bardeen finished the eighth inning with an out and Pettis, who threw 32 innings and three scoreless innings to get the win in the 12-inning series opener Thursday, needed just eight pitches to polish off the perfection from the pen.
Avison, who after his first eight outings had an earned-run average of 9.64, has now had four straight scoreless appearances. In those games, he has allowed one hit in 3 2/3 innings, has not walked a batter, and has struck out two.
For Bardeen, it was his third straight scoreless outing. In those games, he has worked 4 1/3 innings, allowing three hits, walking one and fanning four. After his first seven pitching appearances, his ERA was 8.40.
Bergman, whom Gillespie said did not have his best stuff, was charged with two earned runs on eight hits in six-plus innings.
Bergman walked one and struck out two.
“I think [Bergman] sort of toughed it out, tonight,” Gillespie said.
Freshman third baseman DJ Crumlich and Orloff had two hits apiece, while Crumlich was one of six Anteaters who drove in a run.
Jeff Cusick, Francis Larson, Stevenson and Tommy Reyes also had RBIs for the winners, who had 10 hits to hand the 49ers their fourth straight loss.
Orloff, who singled his first two at-bats, scored in the first to tie the school career record for runs with 147. He now shares the top spot with Mike Nagle, who played from 1978 to 1981.
Long Beach State starter Jake Thompson pitched six innings, giving up five runs on eight hits and striking out one to fall to 2-5.
UCI, which has a two-game lead in the conference standings ahead of UC Santa Barbara and Pacific (both 5-3), attempts to close out its second conference series sweep today at 1 p.m.
Big West Conference
UC Irvine 6, Long Beach State 3
SCORE BY INNINGS
Thompson, Rasco (7), Carrillo (8) and Hill; Bergman, Avison (7), Bardeen (8), Pettis (9) and Larson. W – Bergman, 5-1. L – Thompson, 2-5. Sv – Pettis (9). 2B – Hill (LB), Cusick (UCI), Olson (UCI) 2, Reyes (UCI).
BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at [email protected].
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