UCI edged by Bulldogs, 1-0
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Steve Virgen
Brett Smith is a sophomore. He’s been where Kris Krise and Chris
Nicoll were: nerves racing, awaiting to throw their first pitch in
NCAA Division I baseball. So, Smith, who was on his game, did not
mind to step aside in UC Irvine’s home opener that still proved to be
a pitchers’ duel.
This game was about pitching, and Krise and Nicoll met the
challenge. It was no wonder the difference in the game came down to
one clutch hit. That belonged to Fresno State, which earned a
season-opening 1-0 victory over UCI at Anteater Ballpark Tuesday
night before 750 baseball fans.
“It’s a big deal; that first pitch is huge for them,” said Smith,
a 6-foot-5 right-hander who struck out four and allowed just two hits
in 11 innings. “I hate leaving games, but we have to have everyone
ready to pitch. I remember I was wound up in knots. I was shaking my
whole way to the park.”
Smith said he has added a pitch to his game this season, a slider,
which helped him throughout his three innings. He began the game with
a strikeout and he ended his stint with another. UCI Coach John
Savage predetermined Smith’s pitch count to go to 45 pitches, and
Smith ended the third with 44.
“I thought (Smith) was very good, borderline dominating,” said
Savage, who was impressed with the pitching from both teams. “You saw
the future. If we pitch like that the whole year, we’re going to have
a very good year.”
Savage also noted the rarity of a 1-0 game.
“Very rarely do you see a 1-0 game in college baseball,” Savage
said. “I don’t think you’ll see a better pitched game.”
The Anteaters were not involved in a 1-0 ballgame last year and
they have not been in one since March 30, 1979 in a loss at Cal State
Fullerton.
Granted, Tuesday night was the first game for both teams, so
rustiness at the plate is sometimes expected, yet that did not
overshadow the pitching.
Krise, the 6-6, 230-pound right-hander who was drafted by the
Arizona Diamondbacks in the 43rd round, was one of the UCI pitchers
that held the Bulldogs scoreless through seven innings. His debut
began with an impressive inning in the fourth.
For starters, Krise faced Fresno State junior Casey McGehee, who
led the Bulldogs in batting (.367), runs scored (49, hits (88)
on-base percentage (.412), total bases (127) and slugging percentage
(.529) last year. Krise struck out McGehee in three pitches.
“I knew who he was and that got me fired up,” Krise said of
McGehee. “At first, everyone gets pre-game jitters, but I was quite
ready for this game.
The Anteater pitchers, Smith, Krise, Nicoll, Paul Tripoli and
Michael Koehler, allowed just five hits and struck out 11. Tripoli
took the loss, while Fresno State freshman Matt Garza picked up the
win. Cody Smith, a junior for Fresno State, started the game and
finished with three strikeouts and allowed two hits in three innings.
The Bulldogs, coached by first-year coach Mike Batesole who guided
Cal State Northridge to a Big West Conference title last year, scored
in the eighth inning. Chris Patrick singled to left field and stole
second to add pressure for the Anteaters.
With two out, UCI chose to walk Cody Smith to get to Brian Pierce.
But Pierce got a hold of a 1-2 pitch and his hard-hit ball bounced
off the glove of a diving third baseman, Matt Anderson and rolled
into left field, scoring Patrick.
UCI second baseman Matt Fisher, a junior transfer from Oklahoma,
deftly fielded a hard-charging ground ball, and made the quick throw
to first, to prevent a run in the bottom of the seventh.
The Anteaters return to action Friday at 3 p.m., when Glenn
Swanson is set to open a three-game series at Santa Clara.
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