‘Eaters edged in 13th

Host Santa Clara University rallied for three runs in the seventh

and one in the ninth to force extra innings, then scored in the 13th

to claim a 5-4 nonconference baseball victory over UC Irvine Sunday

at Buck Shaw Stadium.

The Anteaters (2-2), opened a 2-0 lead in the second inning, then

added single runs in the third and the seventh. But the bullpen

failed to hold the lead, denying starter Michael Koehler the victory.

The sophomore right-hander blanked the Broncos for five innings,

yielding just three hits and walking one, while striking out two.

Three Anteater errors led to two unearned runs to help Santa Clara

pull even, before pushing across the winning run, when pinch-runner

David Hoffmire scored on a one-out fielder’s choice.

The victory helped the Bronos avert a series sweep, following a

2-1 UCI victory Friday night and a 9-4 UCI triumph Saturday.

Santa Clara’s Mark Folgner walked to begin the winning rally,

advancing to third on a one-out double by Joe Diefenderfer. An

intentional walk loaded the bases. Michael Thompson hit a slow

grounder to second base and the Anteaters could not turn the double

play in time.

Half of UCI’s eight hits were for extra bases, including a solo

homer in the seventh by senior third baseman Steve Guthrie to

increase the visitors’ lead to 4-0.

Freshman catcher Mark Wagner had two hits and an RBI for the

Anteaters, for whom junior second baseman Matt Fisher had an RBI

triple and freshman first baseman Matt Falk added an RBI.

Senior shortstop B.J. Eucce had a double for UCI, which stranded

seven runners.

Santa Clara (5-4) left 14 men on base, but was bailed out by

Patrick Overholt, who pitched five two-hit innings of shutout relief

to earn his second win in as many decisions.

NONCONFERENCE

Santa Clara 5, UCI 4

Score by Innings

UCI 021 000 100

000 0 -- 4 8

3

S.Clara 000 000 301

000 1 -- 5

10 0

Koehler, French (6), Tripoli (7), Krise (7), Raulinaitis

(8), Schroer (8), Alstot (11) and Wagner; Shapiro, Diefenderfer (4),

Rea (8), Overholt (9) and McColgan, Wallace. W -- Overholt, 2-0. L --

Alstot, 0-1. 2B -- Wagner (UCI), Diefenderfer (SC), Dierks (SC). 3B

-- Fischeer (UCI), Eucce (UCI). HR -- Guthrie (UCI).