Los Alamitos Holds Off University at Big West

University Coach Chris Conlin had seen this before.

For the second time in three days, his team faced an uphill battle after spotting the opponent an early five-run lead.

But the Trojans, who rallied for seven consecutive runs Saturday in the first round of the Big West Invitational, were unable to repeat in the second round Monday, and Los Alamitos held on for a 5-3 victory at Windrow Park in Irvine.

The Griffins (9-9) advance to play Marina in a semifinal game today at 4 p.m. at Windrow Park.

“I wasn’t worried being down,” Conlin said. “I thought we hit the ball well. We just came up short.”

A big reason for that was Los Alamitos’ Adam Sargeant, who pitched seven solid innings, giving up two earned runs, six singles and one double.

Los Alamitos took a 1-0 lead in the first when Brandon Tripp’s single up the middle drove in Andy Yonaki, who doubled to start the inning. The Griffins extended the lead to 5-0 in the second on Alex Alba’s RBI grounder, a misplayed fly ball to left field that scored Chris Hegreberg, and a two-run home run by Tripp.

“I was seeing the ball well today,” said Tripp, who had three hits and three runs batted in.

University (10-7-1) answered with a run in the third, when Adam Horner scored on a wild pitch, and two in the fourth. Ashton Chaney’s RBI grounder drove in Nichols and Nick Gerakos doubled deep to center to bring in Bobby Stoneking, making it 5-3.

The Trojans tried to threaten late, placing leadoff runners on first in each of the final two innings, but the Griffins didn’t allow them to advance.

After Nichols ripped a single into left field to open the sixth, he was thrown out trying to steal second by catcher Jeff Kline. Sargeant then got the next two batters to ground out.

Chaney led off the seventh with a walk, but Gerakos hit into a double play and Jon Kovacs grounded to third to end the game.