Horwitz lifts UCI to 7-6 win

UC Irvine center fielder Jon Horwitz went 4 for 6, scored three times

and set up the winning run in the 11th inning with a lead-off triple

as the Anteaters pulled out a 7-6 Big West Conference baseball

victory at UC Santa Barbara Saturday.

Brett Dalton followed Horwitz’s three-bagger with a sacrifice fly

to give the Anteaters a split of the first two of a three-game

series, which wraps up today at 1 p.m.

After falling behind, 3-0, in the first inning, the Anteaters

fought back with two unearned runs in the third inning and one more

in the fourth. A bases-loaded double play brought in the first run

and a wild pitch sent another Anteater home.

Matt Falk led off the fourth with a towering home run over the

right field fence to tie it at 3-3.

The Gauchos couldn’t capitalize on their opportunities, twice

having the go-ahead run at second with nobody out.

Four times UCSB had the potential tying or go-ahead runner thrown

out at the plate. Eleven runners were stranded on base, including

Josh McCanne in the 11th at the end of the game.

Jimmy Alstot (2-4) picked up the win for Irvine after pitching

five innings of relief. He surrendered just two hits and allowed only

one unearned run. Jared Edrosolan (0-2) was credited with the loss.

Edrosolan pitched effectively, but made the one mistake to Horwitz.

Brett Smith went the first six innings and had a 6-4 lead before

being lifted. He allowed eight hits, four earned runs, struck out six

and walked four befoe Steve Schroer and Phil Tripoli made brief

appearances in the seventh inning.

B.J. Eucce was also very prominent, going 3 for 5, scoring twice

with an RBI.

Chris Klemm was 2 for 5. Dalton was 1 for 3 with two RBIs.

The verdict left UCSB at 18-14, 1-1 in the Big West. The Anteaters

are 12-20, 1-1 entering today’s game.

UCSB will start junior right-hander Matt Vasquez (2-2, 4.24 ERA).

The Anteaters counter with Paul French (0-2, 3.44).