Cusick’s slam lifts Anteaters

dpt-ucibase14TextK126MMEOUCI beats UOP on Cusick slamSTOCKTONBASEBALL: Freshman’s pinch-hit homer key to eight-run ninth as UCI rallies past Pacific to complete series sweep.UC IRVINE...11

PACIFIC...8STOCKTON — UC Irvine freshman Jeffrey Cusick keyed an eight-run ninth-inning rally with a pinch-hit grand slam that turned an 8-6 deficit into a 10-8 lead as the Anteaters battled past Pacific, 11-8, Sunday to sweep the three-game Big West Conference baseball series at Klein Family Field.

Cusick, who had two home runs and eight RBIs when he stepped to the plate against Tigers’ reliever David Rowse, cleared the left-field fence to help the Anteaters remain in the thick of the conference title chase.

No. 13-ranked UCI (34-14-1, 10-5 in conference) opened the ninth trailing, 8-3.

Freshman catcher Francis Larson led off with a single up the middle and junior third baseman Tyler Vaughn walked.

Junior first baseman Taylor Holiday doubled down the left-field line to drive in Larson and put runners on second and third.

After a pitching change, sophomore shortstop Ben Orloff singled through the left side to drive in one run and pull UCI within 8-5.

Senior second baseman Cody Cipriano singled to left field to make it 8-6, then senior left fielder Matt Morris dropped down a bunt single to load the bases.

Cusick worked the count full, before delivering his first collegiate slam to give UCI its first lead since a 1-0 advantage was erased in the bottom of the second inning.

Sean Madigan, a freshman designated hitter, followed with a single and scored two outs later on Vaughn’s RBI double to finalize the scoring.

Freshman right-hander Tom Calahan, who came on in the seventh and worked 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, earned the victory, his second in as many decisions.

Senior closer Blair Erickson worked a perfect ninth to record his 13th save of the season and extend his NCAA career record to 53 saves.

The victory was the fourth straight against Big West competition for UCI, which has won five of its last six conference games after dropping the rubber game of a home series against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on April 15.

Pacific fell to 13-40, 1-17.

With two weekends of conference play remaining, UCI sits in third place, behind Long Beach State (13-2 in conference) and UC Riverside (12-3).

After a nonconference game Tuesday at Pepperdine, UCI plays host to Cal State Northridge (2-13 in conference), Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Coach Dave Serrano’s Anteaters finish the regular-season with a three-game series at UC Riverside (May 25-27). The Highlanders are at Long Beach State Friday through Sunday, while Long Beach State wraps up its regular season at Cal State Fullerton, May 25-27).

Vaughn was three for three with two RBIs Sunday, when Madigan went three for five with a pair of doubles.

Holiday and Orloff had two hits and one RBI apiece, while Cipriano finished with two RBIs.

Big West Conference

UC Irvine 11, Pacific 8

Score by Innings

Pettis, Axelrod (5), Calahan (7), Erickson (9) and Larson, Lowenstein (9); Haar, Wild (9), Rowse (9), Hovey (9) and Oliveira. W -- Calahan, 2-0. L -- Wild, 1-9. Sv -- Erickson (13). 2B -- Holiday (UCI), Madigan (UCI) 2, Vaughn (UCI), Oliveira (UOP), Fuson (UOP). HR -- Cusick (UCI), Baum (UOP).