College Baseball: Houston edges ‘Eaters again
Billowy clouds circled on the horizon, as bright sunshine blanketed Anteater Ballpark on Saturday. But storm clouds continue to hover over the UC Irvine program.
The Anteaters (11-8), who had three of their five previously scheduled baseball games rained out, dropped their third straight decision, 5-4, to Houston.
It was the second straight one-run loss for the ‘Eaters, for whom Coach Mike Gillespie was ejected with one out in the Houston eighth inning.
“I just think he didn’t like what was going on over there,” said Ben Orloff, UCI’s associate head coach, who took over for Gillespie after plate umpire Ramon Armendariz administered the hook, forcing him to leave the premises. “Emotions were a little high after [Friday] night, which was a tough way to lose, then we weren’t great in the first half the game [Saturday].”
Gillespie was miffed, observers said, by dugout chatter from Houston players directed at UCI players.
“It’s just something that happens,” Orloff said. “We’re all playing to win and competing.”
Houston (17-5) used five doubles in the first six innings to take a 5-0 lead against UCI junior starter Louis Raymond.
UCI junior left fielder Cole Kreuter, who hit a solo home run on Friday, cleared the fence again, this time a three-run shot, to pull UCI closer in the sixth. It was the third homer of the season for Kreuter, whose 18 runs batted in trail only preseason All-American Keston Hiura (20) on the UCI roster.
Not long after Gillespie had been tossed, then came out to shout his disagreement at Armendariz face-to-face, UCI senior Mikey Duarte doubled into the left-field corner to open the UCI eighth.
After Duarte advanced to third on a flyout by Hiura, Houston brought in closer Aaron Fletcher to relieve starter Mitch Ullom. Fletcher fielded Adrian Damla’s comebacker and held Duarte at third, but threw wildly to first base, allowing Damla to reach and Duarte to score to bring UCI within one run.
But Fletcher, who has not allowed an earned run in 10 innings this season, struck out four of the final six he faced to notch his fifth save and drop UCI’s record to 1-4 in one-run decisions.
Houston, which entered the nonconference series 1-2 in one-run verdicts, extended its winning streak to nine games.
Duarte was two for three to pace UCI’s seven-hit attack. He also threw out a runner from his knees after moving to his right to field a ground ball, and ranged deep into left field to snare a fly ball to highlight a strong defensive performance by the hosts.
Damla, a freshman first baseman, scooped two low throws to save errors and made an over-the-shoulder catch of a fly ball in shallow right field.
UCI relievers Chris Vargas (three strikeouts in two innings) and Ryan Johnston (one strikeout in one inning), retired all nine hitters they faced after Raymond surrendered 11 hits to fall to 3-2.
“Those [relievers] stabilized the game,” Orloff said.
The series concludes Sunday at noon.
Nonconference
Houston 5, UC Irvine 4
SCORE BY INNINGS
Hou 010 202 000 – 5 11 1
UCI 000 003 010 – 4 7 0
Ullom, Fletcher (8) and Wong; Raymond, Vargas (7), Johnston (9) and Guenette. W – Ullom, 3-2. L – Raymond, 3-2. Sv – Fletcher (5). 2B – Hiura (UCI), Padgett (H) 2, Julks (H) 2, Scheiner (H), Duarte (UCI). HR – Kreuter (UCI).
Twitter: @BarryFaulkner5
