‘Eaters lose, 2-1

RIVERSIDE — UC Irvine’s seven-game winning streak was halted Sunday when UC Riverside rallied for two runs in the eighth inning to claim a 2-1 triumph and deliver a blow to the Anteaters’ Big West Conference baseball title hopes.

UCI (37-14, 15-6 in conference) fell two games behind Cal State Fullerton with three games to play. The Anteaters, who are ranked No. 24 by Baseball America, have wrapped up at least a share of second place and can claim second outright with one victory in the three-game weekend series with visiting Long Beach State.

UCI plays host to UCLA on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. before battling the Dirtbags Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Sophomore left-hander Matt Whitehouse blanked the Highlanders (27-22, 9-12) on four hits over seven innings, before exiting having thrown 102 pitches. He struck out seven and did not issue a walk.

Freshmen Andrew Thurman and Jimmy Litchfield were each charged with runs while combining to get only one out in the eighth

Junior first baseman Jordan Fox singled in the lone run for the Anteaters in the fourth inning.

D.J. Crumlich, Brian Hernandez and Christian Ramirez added singles for UCI.