Summers brightens Anteaters’ gloom

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SAN DIEGO — The silver lining of UC Irvine’s 7-4 nonconference baseball loss on a cloudy, gloomy day at the University of San Diego Tuesday was not lost on Anteaters Coach Mike Gillespie.

But, by the time Gillespie gained encouragement from a strong eighth inning from freshman reliever Matt Summers, it was already too late to salvage his mood, which had turned downright stormy.

“I see a day like today, quite truthfully, and it’s a humbling game,” said Gillespie, whose No. 3-ranked Anteaters (23-10) had won four straight coming in.

“I don’t like it. I don’t think it’s OK. It wasn’t a miserable performance, with us kicking the ball around or throwing it away. But I’m frustrated.”

It was mostly pitching that let UCI down, as Noel Avison, Brock Bardeen and Corey Hamilton each gave up at least two runs apiece to the Toreros (24-13), who outhit the visitors, 13-9, and had six of the game’s seven extra-base hits.

“We needed a real good pitching performance and we didn’t get it from a couple guys who have given us good pitching performances,” Gillespie said. “And USD can hit. [The West Coast Conference co-leaders] have won 24 games now. And, I think we saw pretty good midweek pitching from them.”

Still, Gillespie was troubled by what he viewed as a general lack of intensity from his team, which having earned a three-game lead in the Big West Conference standings with an 8-1 start, might have been feeling a little fat and sassy.

“I don’t think we’ve had many days where we just were flat and not ready and not intense,” Gillespie said. “I don’t think it’s fair to say that just because we lost. But as I sat there and watched it, I certainly didn’t feel much electricity there, or much energy, I can tell you that. I don’t think it’s OK.”

What was perhaps better than OK was the work of Summers. The two-way prospect from Arizona struck out two and allowed one hit in a scoreless inning. It was only the third outing of the season for Summers, who had been slowed by a knee injury that caused him to miss most of preseason preparation, as well as the first 19 games.

“I really liked what I saw, absolutely,” Gillespie said of Summers, who bounced back from his last outing, in which he struggled in an April 7 loss at UCLA. Against the Bruins, Summers retired just one of the six batters he faced, walking three and allowing one run before being pulled.

“I don’t know whether to be glad that I saw it, or more frustrated that we haven’t had him all along, because he’d be in the mix in a big way,” Gillespie said. “I’m glad I saw it today and I’m glad for him. He’s a real special athlete.”

Little else was special for UCI, though senior outfielder Eric Deragisch went two for four with a run batted in, senior shortstop Ben Orloff was two for five with a run, and junior catcher Francis Larson connected for his sixth home run of the season, a two-run shot that pulled the visitors within 5-4 in the sixth.

San Diego junior Matt Hauser, a product of Corona del Mar High and Orange Coast College, earned the victory with 3 1/3 innings of relief. Hauser, who took over for starter Scott DeNault with two outs in the third inning, allowed six hits and two earned runs to improve to 2-1.

Darrin Campbell surrendered just one hit in blanking the ’Eaters over the final three innings to earn his second save.

Second baseman Chris Engell was three for four to pace five Toreros who had at least two hits.

Catcher Nick McCoy homered to open the scoring off Avison, who had put together four straight scoreless relief appearances, before getting his second start of the season.

USD center fielder Zach Walters doubled and tripled to help the Toreros beat UCI for the third straight season at Cunningham Stadium.

Nonconference

San Diego 7, UC Irvine 4

SCORE BY INNINGS

Avison, Bardeen (3), Hamilton (6), Summers (8) and Larson; DeNault, Hauser (3), Campbell (7) and McCoy. W – Hauser, 2-1. L – Avison, 2-1. Sv – Campbell (2). 2B – Engell (SD), McCoy (SD), Walters (SD), Chatwood (SD). 3B – Walters (SD). HR – Larson (UCI), McCoy (SD).

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