COLLEGE ROUNDUP : UCI Mistakes, Illness Give Northridge Edge in Baseball

UC Irvine’s inability to play “little ball,” coupled with Cal State Northridge’s long ball helped the Matadors to a 3-1 nonconference baseball victory Thursday night at UC Irvine.

Leadoff hitter Greg Shockey got Northridge (25-7) started with a blast, driving David Bladow’s second pitch of the game over the center-field fence. It was Shockey’s fifth home run of the season.

Shockey went three for four, with a double, a home run and two runs batted in.

“It’s a big plus when your leadoff guy can get you a run like that,” Northridge Coach Bill Kernen said. “He’s been swinging real well lately.”

Irvine (16-15), which played without starting first baseman Corey Parker and second baseman Joe Furukawa, who have the flu, didn’t get many good swings against Northridge starter David Eggert.

Eggert (5-0) allowed five hits, struck out five and walked two in his complete-game victory. Eggert has completed all three of his starts this season.

Bladow took the loss, giving up 12 hits, striking out nine and walking none.

Irvine’s offense was stymied by great defense and its poor bunting.

With runners on first and second and two outs in the fourth inning, Irvine’s Steve Ott drove the ball to the wall in left field, but Chris Olsen robbed Ott of extra bases by crashing into the wall to make the catch an preserve the Matadors’ 2-0 lead.

Irvine drew within 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh on three singles and a balk.

Vinnie Orlando hit a ground ball up the middle that Northridge shortstop Andy Hodgins smothered, but threw too late to get Orlando at first.

Ott, who had led off with a single, scored on the infield single. Dave Dieter also tried to score, but easily was thrown out at the plate.

Northridge added a run in the ninth on doubles by Shockey and Richardson.

Irvine botched sacrifice bunt attempts in the the sixth and the eighth innings, when trailing by one.

“That was the difference tonight,” Irvine Coach Mike Gerakos said. “Northridge makes that great play in the outfield. We lose the popup in the twilight and we don’t convert on our short game.”

In Big West Conference women’s tennis:

UC Irvine 9, CS Long Beach 0--Ali Yoshimoto defeated Monica Davis, 6-3, 6-3, in No. 1 singles and Krista Kuechler defeated Jennifer Shoudt, 7-6, 6-2, in No. 4, and the two teamed to beat Michelle Velli and Jennifer Saulsbury in No. 2 doubles for the Anteaters (14-5).

In nonconference men’s tennis:

Chapman 5, Loyola-Marymount 4--Aris Vassiliou won his match, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, for Chapman (8-6).

In Golden State Athletic Conference softball:

Cal Baptist 9-5, Southern California College 4-4--Cal Baptist (14-21-1, 10-3) scored two runs in each of the fifth and six innings in the second game to gain the sweep at Cal Baptist. Janet Evans was three for three, including two doubles, and two RBIs, in the first game for the Vanguards (18-9-1, 6-5-1).