College Baseball: ‘Eaters’ offense rolling
RIVERSIDE — Junior pitcher Elliot Surrey spoiled his offense to open Big West Conference play. It took less than a week for his UC Irvine hitters to return the favor.
Surrey overcame a shaky start, then settled in to take advantage of an 18-hit barrage that fueled a 15-5 Big West victory over UC Riverside on Thursday at the Riverside Sports Complex.
It was the third straight winning start for Surrey, who blanked visiting Hawaii on six hits on March 27 in the Anteaters’ conference opener. The left-hander, who retired 15 straight between the second and seventh innings Thursday, allowed eight hits and five runs, four earned, in eight innings. He struck out seven, did not walk a batter and improved to 4-2. He threw 110 pitches, 80 for strikes.
It was the 10th straight win for the ‘Eaters (16-10, 4-0 in conference), who scored double-digit runs in back-to-back games for only the second time in 253 games, since it opened the 2011 season with a pair of prolific wins over Nevada.
UCI followed a 10-3 win over UNLV to open the Corvallis Regional last season with a 14-2 drubbing of host Oregon State to begin a postseason run that eventually led to the College World Series.
Coach Mike Gillespie’s squad had 13 runs and 15 hits in Tuesday’s home win over San Diego, but cuffed around seven Highlanders pitchers even more effectively Thursday. The 18 hits and 15 runs are the most in a game this season for UCI.
Sophomore second baseman John Brontsema was four for six to pace the UCI offense.
Sophomore designated hitter Andrew Martinez went two for three with a three-run home run in the third inning that put the visitors on top, 8-4.
UCI faced a 4-1 deficit after two innings, but scored seven in the third and never looked back.
Junior first baseman Mitchell Holland went two for five with four runs batted in and freshman outfielder Keston Hiura went two for five with three RBIs.
Hiura, who was zero for three until he extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a double in the eighth, leads the team with 23 RBIs this season.
Martinez, who has 15 RBIs, leads the Big West with seven homers, which account for half of his hits this season.
Junior Jonathan Muñoz came off the bench to drive in a pair of runs , while junior shortstop Mikey Duarte had a pair of doubles, scored three times and drove in a run to add to the list of heroes. Duarte now has a team-best 13 doubles in 2015.
Riverside, which swept UCI in the ‘Eaters’ last visit to the Inland Empire in 2013, added to its misfortune with four errors, five walks and two hit batsmen. Eight of UCI’s runs were unearned.
“There are some guys who are swinging the bat better,” Gillespie said. “Martinez [who was given the hit sign on the 3-0 pitch he hit out] is dangerous and Hiura and Holland have been pretty consistent. And Duarte is just a lot stronger this year.”
UCI maintained at least a share of first place, as UC Davis took a 3-0 conference record into a late Thursday night game at Hawaii.
UCI will attempt to win its sixth consecutive series with a win on Friday at 6 p.m.
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Big West Conference
UC Irvine 15, UC Riverside 5
SCORE BY INNINGS
UCI 107 000 025 – 15 18 1
UCR 310 000 010 – 5 9 4
Surrey, Vetrovec (9) and McClanahan; Sprague, Gonzalez (3), Compton (5), Morton (7), Gentner (8), Kron (9), Ellis (9) and Ellis, Leach (9). W – Surrey, 4-2. L – Sprague, 2-4. 2B – Duarte (UCI) 2, Hiura (UCI), Colvin (UCR). HR – Martinez (UCI).