IRVINE, Calif. — Watching UC Irvine play yesterday, one wouldhave a hard time guessing the program is just coming off a nine-yearhiatus.
The program was reinstated this year after being in 1992, andplaying just its 25th game since then, UCI (13-12) recovered from twoweekend losses to San Diego State (16-7) with a 12-3 blowout.
“I wasn’t really surprised,” said SDSU shortstop Taber Lee.”They’re young, but can really swing.”
In fact, the trouncing shouldn’t come as to big of a shockerconsidering the Anteaters have already recorded wins over UCLA, USCand two against BYU this year.
SDSU’s woes began with UCI starting pitcher Paul French (2-3).Other than a second inning walk by Jon Stephens, no Aztec
reached base until Lee led off the sixth inning with a single toright.
French went seven innings, allowing just four hits while strikingout 10.
“He’s a good pitcher, he had good stuff,” said Lee, who went3-for-4. “You just have to compliment him.”
SDSU managed to bring in two runs in the inning on an error and anRBI ground out by Carlo Cota.
Meanwhile, SDSU starter Joe Carque (3-1) experienced early controlproblems, which got the Aztecs into a deep hole early. Carque, whohad just joined the team after tending to sensitive family mattersFriday and Saturday, served up a two-run jack to catcher Chris Millerin the first. He then got scorched for five runs in the third.
After consecutive walks (including two wild pitches) loaded thebases, second baseman Gregg Wallis moved everyone up a base with asingle. Then came the big blow, a base-clearing triple by leftfielder Jordan Szabo.
“It’s hard mentally getting back into a groove,” said Carque. “Ijust didn’t have anything going for me today.”
UCI dug the hole deeper in the fourth, tacking on three more runsoff Rob Harrand, then two more in the sixth.
SDSU scratched out one last run in the seventh on an RBI singlefrom Lee.
Miller finished 3-for-4 for the Anteaters with four runs scoredand four runs driven in.
Not all bad news
Yesterday’s debacle was a rough way to end what was otherwise asolid weekend. Friday night at Anteater ballpark, the Aztecs lookedsharp in a 5-2 win.
Stephens went 3-for-5 at the plate with a double, driving in tworuns. The bullpen held UCI scoreless for the final four innings, withRoyce Ring throwing a perfect ninth inning for the save.
Ring earned his second save in two nights Saturday, tossing thefinal two innings of SDSU’s 8-7 victory at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
After the Anteaters got out to a 4-1 lead, the Aztecs put up afive-spot in the fifth to get ahead. Run-scoring triples by Cota andcatcher Josh Allen highlighted the inning.
Three runs in the top of the seventh gave the advantage back toUCI, but in the bottom of the frame, Cota came through with a two-runsingle with two outs to put SDSU ahead for good.
“(Let’s not) lose focus that we handled them pretty well the firsttwo games,” said pitching coach Rusty Filter.
Quotable
“Am I discouraged by today? Yeah. Am I worried? No.” – SDSUpitching coach Rusty Filter
By the Numbers
2 – Ring’s rank on SDSU’s all-time saves list with 16- he trails Mark Williamson by one for the lead
2.11 – Increase in Carque’s ERA (from 2.76 to 4.85) afterallowing seven runs in three innings yesterday
438 – Feet from home plate at Anteater Ballpark to theparking garage beyond the right field fence, according to the signpainted on the garage.
