‘Eaters drop rubber game

LONG BEACH — The UC Irvine baseball team lost a 4-1 lead and lost, 5-4, to host Long Beach State in the rubber game of the three-game Big West Conference series on Sunday at Blair Field.

The Dirtbags (18-19, 9-3 in conference), who are tied with Cal State Fullerton for first place, scored three in the fifth inning to finalize the scoring and hand UCI (20-16, 5-7) its third straight conference series setback.

UCI falls to seventh place in the Big West and has lost three conference series for the first time since 2005.

Freshman catcher Jerry McClanahan was three for three with one run batted in and one run, while freshman right fielder Kris Paulino was two for three with a pair of doubles and scored one run.

Senior shortstop D.J. Crumlich was two for four with one RBI and freshman third baseman Taylor Sparks was two for four with one run scored.

Senior Crosby Slaught allowed five runs on five hits in 42/3 innings to get the loss. He is 4-4.

UCI had 10 hits to the Dirtbags’ nine and the hosts committed the game’s only error.

UCI visits UCLA Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Vanguard 11,

The Master’s 3

COSTA MESA — Junior Hank Yates went three for three with three runs batted in and two runs to lead the host Lions in the Golden State Athletic Conference game Monday.

Junior Adonis Tountas was three for four with two RBIs and one run for Vanguard (22-18, 12-16 in conference), which moved into a fifth-place tie with four regular-season games remaining.

The Lions erased TMC’s 2-0 lead with single runs in the first and third innings, then scored nine in the sixth to blow it open.

J.T. Truhett had two hits and both Bryce Arroyo and Michael Castello had two RBIs apiece for the winners.

Tucker Woods, who allowed one run and one hit in 31/3 innings of relief, earned the win.

The Master’s is now 31-19, 16-16.

WOMEN’S GOLF

Big West Conference Championship

SAN LUIS OBISPO — UC Irvine shot a 302 in the second round Monday and ise in second place heading into the last day at the San Luis Obispo Country Club.

The Anteaters have a two-day total of 602 (300-302) and trail UC Davis by two shots. Long Beach State (611) is in third.

UCI was led by sophomore Ronnie Valerio who carded a one-under-par 71 Monday and moved into a tie for second with a 36-hole total of 148.

Junior Michelle Park is tied for fifth at 150, while redshirt freshman Michelle Yang is tied for 10h at 153 and sophomore Sara Banke is tied for 12th at 155.

Senior Lalita Patipaksiri is tied for 22nd at 157.

UCI held a five-shot lead over UC Davis after Day 1.

The final round begins with Patipaksiri teeing off at 8:50 a.m. on Tuesday.

MEN’S GOLF

Anteater Invitational

NEWPORT BEACH — Host UC Irvine is tied for third place after Monday’s first two rounds of the 32nd annual event at Shady Canyon Golf Club.

Long Beach State leads the nine-team tournament with a 36-hole score of 569. San Jose State is in second at 575 while UCI, UC Santa Barbara and St. John’s are tied for third at 585.

UCI Junior Michael Yang (74-71) and redshirt freshman Pete Fernandez (72-73) are tied for 10th place at 145.

Sophomore Allan Jun is 16th at 147, junior Mickey Chan is 18th at 148 and redshirt sophomore Ryan Knapp, an Estancia High product, is 33rd at 153.

Mark Anguiano of Cal State Fullerton is the individual leader at four-under-par 138 after rounds of 68-70 on the par-71 course.

Jay Myers of San Jose State and Kevin Roy from Long Beach State are tied for second at 139.

The final round is scheduled for Tuesday.