UCI wins on road with leather

RIVERSIDE — The topography of the outfield at UC Riverside’s baseball field at the Riverside Sports Complex is not conducive to defensive gems.

But in addition to the sloping, slanted dips down both lines about midway between the infield and the foul poles, the expanse of grass patrolled by UC Irvine outfielders became Death Valley to a string of would-be hits by the Highlanders.

UCI outfielders, who have provided several adventurous moments this season, even botching a handful of routine plays, combined to make three diving catches, one each in left field, center and right. There was also a quality grab on the warning track in center to help the No. 3-ranked Anteaters hold on for a 9-6 Big West Conference triumph Saturday night.

With the win, UCI (25-10, 10-1 in conference) clinched the three-game series that concludes today at 1 p.m. It’s the fourth straight Big West series win for the ’Eaters. Only once before in the program’s 31 seasons has UCI won its first four conference series (2002).

And despite three errors (all by infielders), the outfielders were not the lone contributors to what UCI Coach Mike Gillespie said was one of his team’s more impressive defensive displays.

“I think there were about eight, nine or 10 plays that weren’t easy and weren’t normal and made the difference,” Gillespie said. “That was the difference in the game.”

Foremost on the list were diving catches by outfielders Ryan Fisher (in left), Eric Deragisch (in center) and Tommy Reyes (in right).

Reyes charged and went flat out to snare a sinking line drive to end the first inning.

Fisher made a charging, diving catch in shallow left to end the second, somehow managing to hold onto the ball, despite planting his left elbow in the turf and jarring himself on the landing.

Deragisch, who retreated to the warning track to pluck a would-be extra-base hit off the bat of Trevor Hairgrove that limited a Riverside rally, ended the Highlanders’ eighth by charging and diving to snatch a ball just off the grass. The diving grab halted a three-run rally and left a runner on third.

All three diving catches saves at least one run and who knows how many more, had the innings continued.

In addition, Fisher ranged about 10 feet into foul territory to haul in a fly ball to end the fifth.

Shortstop Ben Orloff ranged to the hole, scooped a grounder and fired to second for a bang-bang force out in the third. He also hung with a rocket that hit about six feet in front of him and appeared to take an unusual hop. While squatting, he gloved the ball cleanly and fired to first for the second out in the sixth.

Two Riverside singles followed, but the inning ended without a run when senior left-hander Noel Avison relieved starter Christian Bergman and struck out pinch-hitter Tony Nix to end the threat.

Second baseman Casey Stevenson leaped to snare a line drive for the second out in a scoreless fourth.

“You look up and there were three errors [two behind Bergman, who got the win and is now 6-1] and it looks like a bad game,” Gillespie said. “But, in fact, the defense made the difference.”

UCI’s offense did its share, mostly in a six-run first, in which Francis Larson, Jeff Cusick, Casey Stevenson, DJ Crumlich and Fisher all had two-out hits.

Stevenson’s booming double drove in three, while Cusick, Crumlich and Fisher had single RBIs in the frame.

Riverside (20-12, 2-6) never got closer than three, and junior closer Eric Pettis worked a perfect ninth for his 11th save, second most in the nation.

Stevenson was three for five. Fisher, Crumlich, Reyes and Deragisch all had a pair of hits for UCI, which has 25 runs and 34 hits in the series.

Deragisch also reached twice after being hit by a pitch and he scored twice.

Big West Conference

UC Irvine 9, UC Riverside 6

SCORE BY INNINGS

Bergman, Avison (6), Bardeen (8), Pettis (9) and Larson; Andries, Emmons (1), Moore (8), Kelly (9) and Brantly. W – Bergman, 6-1. L – Andries, 3-2. Sv – Pettis (11). 2B – Hur (UCR) 2, Brantly (UCR), Gonzales (UCR), Stevenson (UCI) 2, Horst (UCR). 3B – Fisher (UCI).

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