USD becomes UCI’s latest shutout victim

IRVINE — Anteater Ballpark – where opposing third-base coaches go to rest and reflect in virtual anonymity.

The UC Irvine baseball team used five pitchers to blank its fourth straight opponent Tuesday, this time sending No. 11-ranked San Diego back down the freeway wondering if its collective aluminum was somehow defective.

The final was 4-0 before 641.

Sophomore left-hander Danny Bibona struck out 12 in six scoreless innings, working out of a first-inning jam to help protect what is becoming, at 36 consecutive scoreless innings, a rather remarkable string of mound success.

“I haven’t seen it and I don’t think any other college coach in the history of the game has seen it,” said UCI Coach Mike Gillespie, after his staff lowered its season earned-run average to 1.12, while helping the No. 13-ranked Anteaters improve to a program-best 8-0.

“Even in the dead-ball era,” Gillespie said with a laugh. “If you think about it, it’s just ridiculous. I mean, really, it’s unbelievable. People say [the Toreros] can’t hit and they aren’t good. Yeah, they are good. This team can win that [West Coast] Conference [they are picked to win by the coaches]. They’ll be a playoff team; they could host [a regional], like they did last year.”

USD (5-5) had been struggling offensively, having come in with a streak of 13 straight scoreless innings.

But Bibona, after allowing singles to the first two hitters he faced, buckled down, rather than buckle under to the weight of the streak.

“In that first inning [the streak, began with three straight blankings of West Coast Conference visitor San Francisco in a nonconference series Friday through Sunday,] was on my mind,” Bibona said. “After I gave up those first two hits [putting runners on the corners], I was like ‘You can’t give up a run.’ ”

Bibona, who improved to 2-0 and has now allowed one run in 12 innings this season, said he felt less than his best coming out of the bullpen to start the game.

“When I gave up those first two hits, I was thinking ‘This could be a long night,’ ” he said. “It sort of got me going, got me thinking and, after that, it just felt good. I attacked, I was aggressive and everything seemed to click out there.”

Bibona induced a pop to short and struck out the next two foes.

Bibona, 1-1 with a 6.84 ERA in 16 appearances (five starts) as a freshman, said his new-found confidence and his three-pitch mix of fastball, slider and changeup, helped him shatter his previous single-game strikeout total of five, set in his Feb. 27 home win over USC.

“With me, it’s usually about control,” Bibona said. “And, working with [first-year pitching coach Ted Silva], he has really got me using this 5-foot-11, 165-pound frame of mine. I feel like I’m throwing harder. I feel like I’m a lot bigger out [on the mound]. Skip [Gillespie] always tells me ‘You look big out there,’ though I know he’s just messing with me.”

Bibona, who threw 100 pitches, allowed four hits and walked one. He made UCI’s seven-hit attack look big, as did relievers Matt Dufour, Tom Calahan, Kyle Necke and Eric Pettis.

After the first inning, no Torero advanced past second base, leaving USD Coach Rich Hill, who also coached third for the team, a tad longing for conversation. At one point in the top of the eighth, the home-plate umpire appealed to the third-base ump about a check swing call. The third-base umpire, however, was not looking at the plate, instead distracted by conversing with Hill.

Sophomore designated hitter Francis Larson opened the UCI second with a single and advanced to second when junior third baseman Eric Deragisch, turned a sacrifice attempt into a bunt single. Sean Madigan followed with a walk and senior catcher Aaron Lowenstein grounded into a double play to plate Larson.

Lowenstein, one for 22 at the time, sparked a three-run fifth by lining a two-strike pitch into right field for a single. After a popup, Ben Orloff reached when third baseman Victor Sanchez threw high to first after fielding what was ruled a bunt single.

Junior center fielder Ollie Linton fisted a bloop single over a drawn-in infield to allow Lowenstein and Orloff to score. One out later, Linton, who stole four bases in four tries and is now 11 for 11 on the season, trotted home on a single by freshman left fielder Ryan Fisher.

Fisher, who has an RBI in every game this season (15 total to lead the team), also made the defensive play of the night, ranging to his right and diving to catch a fly ball for the first out in the seventh. Dufour (two) and Pettis combined to make it 15 strikeouts for UCI pitchers.

The only potential negative was Linton having to leave the game after stealing second in the eighth, due to discomfort after being hit by a pitch in his right leg.

“That’s a concern,” Gillespie said of Linton’s sore leg.

Linton, however, was seen jogging off the diamond after the game.

Orloff, who doubled in the seventh for the game’s lone extra-base hit, finished two for three from the leadoff spot.

“We had just enough offense,” said Gillespie, whose team figures to be challenged by Tulane (6-3), which will host a three-game nonconference series beginning Friday.

UCI All-American Scott Gorgen, who has yet to allow a run in 15 innings, including a complete-game one-hitter against USF Friday, will get the next chance to extend the scoreless innings streak.

“The guy [Gorgen] is facing Friday [Tulane’s Shooter Hunt, who is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA] is said to be a slam-dunk first-round draft pick,” Gillespie said.

When asked what the penance would be for the first UCI hurler to surrender a run, Gillespie laughed, before stating, wryly, “It’s out that gate and don’t come back, because you’ve embarrassed us.”

Nonconference

UC Irvine 4, San Diego 0

SCORE BY INNINGS

Solis, Thompson (7), Griffin (8) and Gelbrich; Bibona, Dufour (7), Calahan (8), Necke (8), Pettis (9) and Lowenstein. W – Bibona, 2-0. L – Solis, 1-1. 2B – Orloff (UCI).

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at [email protected].