And with no fewer than five teams ahead of UCI in the Big West standings, the array of scenarios in which Coach Mike Gillespie’s squad can still wind up on top, is diminishing faster than a UCI offense that produced just six runs and 17 hits in three games at Northridge, arguably, the conference’s most hitter-friendly park.
“I’m mystified as to why we can’t make more consistent, hard contact,” said Gillespie, after Northridge freshman starter Ryan Juarez became the latest Matador to find magic on the mound against UCI.
Juarez, who entered with a 5.81 earned-run average, allowed one run on three hits through seven innings Sunday. And when the hosts scored four runs, three unearned, in their half of the seventh, he would up with his third win against two losses.
Junior closer Edwin Quirarte threw two scoreless innings, allowing two hits, to post his seventh save, upping Northridge’s record to 20-24, 6-12.
Saturday, it was senior Philip Hann, against whom foes had been hitting .302, who gave his best Brandon Webb impersonation, allowing just four hits and one run in 8 2/3 innings, paring his ERA from 4.62 to 4.17, despite absorbing the 1-0 loss.
The ill-fated seventh inning Sunday was a virtual culture dish of unhealthy symptoms that have plagued the Anteaters in recent weeks, during which they have forged an 8-7 record after a 22-5 start.
Bibona, a sophomore left-hander, continued his trend of mastering opponents through five innings. He retired the first 11 Matadors and had a one-hit shutout heading into the sixth. He worked through the sixth after allowing a leadoff single, then posted his eighth strikeout of the game to open the seventh.
