Cue Cusick

LOS ANGELES — With an older brother who played at USC, Jeff Cusick could never be confused for a UCLA sympathizer.

The UC Irvine sophomore first baseman added to that reputation Tuesday night by driving in the winning run in the Anteaters’ 6-5 triumph in 10 innings before 531 at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

“I guess when it came to a USC-UCLA series, I was always on the opposite side of UCLA,” said Cusick, whose hit ended a four-for-20 stretch over a span of five games that had chipped away at his batting average, which was a Big West Conference-leading .420 when the game began.

Cusick’s brother, Matt, is now in the minor leagues.

Cusick’s hit, which scored junior Ollie Linton from second base, helped UCI, ranked No. 6 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Assn., improve to 21-5.

It also allowed UCI to avoid losing a comfortable lead for the second straight game. The ’Eaters saw a 4-0 cushion vanish in Sunday’s 6-4 home loss to Cal State Fullerton.

Tuesday, UCI earned a 5-0 cushion as sophomore starter Christian Bergman worked four shutout innings.

Bergman allowed just three hits and one walk, while striking out two, but his chance at winning his fifth decision without a loss were squandered by the bullpen.

UCI opened the scoring in the third, when sophomore right fielder Tony Asaro launched a home run over the left-field wall for his second dinger of the campaign.

Senior catcher Aaron Lowenstein followed with a bunt single, then went to third on Linton’s line-drive single to right. Junior shortstop Ben Orloff followed with a bunt single to plate Lowenstein for a 2-0 advantage.

UCI tacked on in the fourth, as UCLA starter Garett Claypool walked sophomore left fielder Francis Larson to open the frame.

Brendan Lafferty relieved Claypool and promptly got a gift out when Larson was cut down on the base paths. Casey Stevenson and Brock Bardeen worked walks for the Anteaters, setting the stage for a one-out, two-run triple that center fielder Alden Carithers almost caught as he banged up against the wall in left-center.

The Bruins (14-13), guided by former UCI head man John Savage, scored one in the fifth on an RBI single by Niko Gallego, son of former Major Leaguer Mike Gallego, off of UCI reliever Matt Dufour.

UCI reliever Noel Avison surrendered majestic home runs on back-to-back pitches in the sixth as, first shortstop Brandon Crawford, then first baseman Casey Haerther unloaded to right-center and left field, respectively, to pull the hosts within 5-3.

The UCI bullpen, which along with its defense has been the leading area of concern for Coach Mike Gillespie thus far, couldn’t hold the lead in the seventh.

With one out, a single and a double chased ‘Eaters right-hander Kyle Necke and lefty Tom Calahan was summoned.

Carithers greeted Calahan with a two-run single to tie the game.

But UCI sophomore closer Eric Pettis came on to start the seventh and held the Bruins in check for three strong innings to earn his third win in as many decisions. Pettis also picked up the win in Saturday’s 3-2 win in 12 innings against Fullerton.

Pettis allowed one hit, walked two, and fanned two to allow Cusick the opportunity to plate the winning run off UCLA junior Tim Murphy, the Bruins’ Friday night starter.

“I knew he throws hard and that he was going to come at me with fastballs,” Cusick said of Murphy, who took the loss to fall to 2-3. “I was trying to hit it hard to the right side or up the middle and I hit it off the fists up the middle.”

Cusick said he was not concerned by his recent slump, when he entered the box.

“All I try to worry about is whether or not I’m swinging at good pitches,” Cusick said. “You’re going to have ups and downs in this game, because that’s the way it has been for 100 years.”

This year, at least, the Anteaters have been unbeatable in extra-inning games, having won both of those in which they have played. UCI is also now 3-0 in one-run verdicts.

“That was a big hit for a kid who needed it,” Gillespie said of Cusick’s game-winner.

Gillespie also praised the work of Pettis, whose strong finish allowed UCI to avoid using Friday night ace Scott Gorgen, who was warming in the bullpen as part of his regular weekly throwing routine.

“There are certain times when Pettis is really good and he was really good tonight,” Gillespie said.

“All in all, it was a good night and there were good things. In the end, had we coughed up that 5-0 lead and it turned into a loss, that would have been pretty tough to deal with.”

UCI returns to conference play with a three-game series at Long Beach State, beginning Friday night.

Nonconference

UC Irvine 6, UCLA 5 (10 innings)

SCORE BY INNINGS

Bergman, Dufour (5), Avison (5), Necke (6), Calahan (8), Pettis (8) and Lowenstein; Claypool, Lafferty (4), Novak (7), Murphy (10) and Babineau. W – Pettis, 3-0. L – Murphy, 2-3. 2B – Lowenstein (UCI), Gallego (UCLA). 3B – Tavelli (UCL). HR – Asaro (UCI), Crawford (UCLA), Haerther (UCLA).

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