'Eaters Rolled by #2 Bruins

UCI's pitching staff could not handle UCLA's hot bats, giving up 12 runs Tuesday night at Cicerone Field.

Photo Credit: Anna Chung

In what was a true test against the second best team in the nation, the UC Irvine baseball team (33-23, 15-9) fell to the UCLA Bruins (42-13) to a score of 13-3 Tuesday night at Cicerone Field. The loss is the ‘Eaters’ second to the Bruins this season, which now has UCI in a five game losing streak.

With 1,840 people in attendance for the Anteaters’ last home game, Cicerone field was in store for a non-conference showdown. The ballpark was full of UCI students as well as alumni from UCLA.

Hampered by struggles by Irvine’s starting pitcher Alonzo Garcia’s erratic pitching and errors in the backfield, UCLA scored three runs in both the first and third innings. In the bottom of the third, UCI stopped the bleeding and put three runs of their own on the board, making the score 6-3. The pitching woes continued for the Anteaters as over the next two innings the Bruins scored six more runs to take a commanding 12-3 lead.

As the student section of Cicerone Field began to deplete during the game’s progression, the proud UCLA fans began to do their famous “eight clap” celebrating every run. Soon, the “UCI!” chants were replaced with the “U!,C!,L!,A!, fight fight fight!” chants.

Irvine struggled all night on both sides of the plate. UCI would only be able to get a total of six hits against UCLA’s spectacular pitching, led by Junior Cody Poteet. The Anteaters would not capitalize when given scoring opportunities, and left seven runners on base on the night. On the defensive end, the Anteater pitching staff allowed 18 base hits to couple with 10 extra base hits. Irvine was sloppy with their catching all night as they committed four errors that accounted for six UCLA runs.

The loss against UCLA does not help the Anteater campaign to make it into NCAA play. Already being on the bubble, UCI cannot afford to lose a game in their last series of the season against the Cal State Northridge Matadors.

“I think we got to sweep,” UCI head coach Mike Gillespie said, “The only way I can really feel confident is by sweeping.”

Gillespie has been concerned with his team’s recent play, having lost five straight games. This is the first time in the season the team has lost five consecutive games since their egregious 0-6 start of the start of the 2014-2015 campaign.

“We know what’s at stake,” head coach Mike Gillespie said. “I’m concerned about the toll it takes on guys’ mentality.”

UCI heads to Northridge this weekend for their final series of the season to solidify their conference standings. Irvine currently is placed third in the conference behind Cal State Fullerton and UC Santa Barbara.