Tables turn on UCI

NEW ORLEANS — The UC Irvine baseball team experienced another shutout Friday, but this time the Anteaters were victimized by host Tulane at Turchin Stadium.

The No. 13-ranked Anteaters, who entered the game having blanked their four previous opponents to improve to 8-0, managed just one hit against Tulane junior starter Shooter Hunt, whom UCI Coach Mike Gillespie said is considered a probable first-round draft choice in the June first-year player draft by Major League clubs.

Hunt, a 6-foot-3 right-hander struck out 11 and walked three, allowing only one runner to advance to second base, before being relieved to start the eighth inning by Mason Griffin.

UCI mounted a rally against Griffin, as junior third baseman Eric Deragisch was hit by a pitch. After pinch-hitter Sean Madigan flied out to right, junior center fielder Ollie Linton reached on an infield single and a single through the right side by junior shortstop Ben Orloff loaded the bases.

Freshman Ryan Fisher, who leads the Anteaters with 15 RBIs, had driven in at least one run in his first eight collegiate games, and was hitting .750 with runners in scoring position, strode to the plate. But Fisher hit into a 6-2-3 double play to end the inning and put another zero on the board.

Orloff singled to left field in the sixth to break up a no-hitter by Hunt, who improved to 2-0 by outdueling UCI All-American Scott Gorgen.

Hunt has now struck out 27 in 19 innings this season, allowing just six hits and two earned runs for an earned-run average of 0.95

Gorgen came into the game not having allowed a run in 15 innings, including a one-hit shutout in his previous start, Feb. 29, at home against San Francisco. Gorgen, who fanned a career-high 12 against the Dons, had 10 strikeouts against the Green Wave, before giving way to Matt Dufour to start the eighth.

Gorgen, who allowed two earned runs in the third inning, saw his ERA climb to 0.82.

But UCI’s scoreless-innings streak ended in the third, when a walk and a double set the table. With runners on second and third, Gorgen struck out Seth Henry. But shortstop Josh Prince, the Green Wave’s sophomore leadoff man, singled through the middle to drive in two runs.

UCI mounted a threat in the ninth, when sophomore first baseman Jeff Cusick was hit by a pitch to start the frame and pinch-hitter Tyler Hoechlin followed by working a walk. Sophomore designated hitter Francis Larson’s sacrifice bunt advanced the runners to second and third, but a Dillon Bell flyout and a Deragisch groundout allowed Griffin to post his second save.

The win upped Tulane’s record to 8-3.

The three-game series continues today at noon. UCI will start sophomore Bryce Stowell (1-0 with a 2.31 ERA) against the Green Wave’s Aaron Loup (0-0, 3.75).

Nonconference

Tulane 2, UC Irvine 0

SCORE BY INNINGS

Gorgen, Dufour (8) and Lowenstein, Donabedian (8); Hunt, Griffin (8) and Dyer. W – Hunt, 2-1. L – Gorgen, 2-1. Sv – Griffin (2).

2B – McFadden (T).