UCI completes sweep

IRVINE – Like many in the UC Irvine baseball team’s dugout, Ryan Fisher has had to wait his turn. But the junior left fielder, who went three for five with a grand slam and five runs batted in Sunday, was one of several who made the most of their initial playing time this season,

Five reserves were among the 12 Anteaters who contributed to 19 UCI hits and help key a 19-9 nonconference win over Loyola Marymount in front of 681 at Anteater Ballpark.

Senior Eric Pettis, making his first start on the mound since the 2007 College World Series, worked six solid innings to earn the victory, which capped a sweep of the three-game season-opening series against the Lions.

Junior third baseman Drew Hillman (two for five) and junior right fielder Sean Madigan (one for two) each had three RBIs, while senior center fielder Cory Olson was two for three with two RBIs.

Senior right fielder Dillon Bell (two doubles) and junior catcher Jonathan Hurst went two for two and contributed to UCI’s 11 extra-base hits.

The No. 8-ranked Anteaters amassed 33 runs, 39 hits and 17 extra-base hits, including four homers, in the series.

“I think hitting-wise, we’re loaded, so every once in awhile, we’re going to have days like this, scoring 10, 15 even 19 runs like today,” Fisher said. “It’s going to happen.”

UCI scored seven in the first inning to stake Pettis to a 7-1 lead, which was a 15-3 advantage after three innings. Pettis allowed six hits and three runs while throwing just 72 pitches.

Sophomore designated hitter Ronnie Shaeffer went two for three and scored twice, while redshirt freshman Scott Goettschling hit a two-run homer to cap his collegiate debut.

Sophomores Jordan Leyland and Matt Summers also registered their first hits of the season in reserve appearances.

“We did swing it and guys that didn’t start the game got hits, so that part was a good day,” UCI Coach Mike Gillespie said. “And, today, I was kind of impressed with the defense. It looks like [sophomore D.J.] Crumlich can play shortstop.”

Crumlich made a play ranging to his right to field a ground ball, then throw out a runner from deep in the hole.

Hillman made a deft backhand play on a hard-hit grounder and sophomore Jordon Fox, filling in in the late innings at first base, made a back-handed, short-hop stab to get another out.

UCI plays host to Rikkyo University of Japan in an exhibition Tuesday at 3 p.m., before venturing to South Carolina to play in the Coastal Carolina Tournament, Thursday through Sunday.

UC Irvine 19, Loyola Marymount 9

LMU 102 000 204 – 9 12 1

UCI 753 000 13X – 19 19 1

Griffin, Wheeler (2), MacGillvray (3), Rosado (7) and Koch; Pettis, Whiteside (7), Brock (8), Hooper (9) and Larson, Hurst (8). W – Pettis, 1-0. L – Griffin, 0-1. 2B – Madigan (UCI) 2, Olson (UCI), Hurst (UCI), Bell (UCI) 2, Summers (UCI), Johnson (LMU), Koch (LMU) 2. 3B – Crumlich (UCI), Shaeffer (UCI),   HR. Fisher (UCI), Gottschling (UCI), Guthrie (LMU).