Anteaters finish off Mustangs

IRVINE — UC Irvine senior Eric Deragisch went four for four, including a two-run home run in the fourth that broke a 5-5 tie, allowing the Anteaters to earn a 7-6 Big West Conference victory over Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Sunday.

Then-No. 10-ranked UCI (16-7, 3-0 in conference) swept then-No. 19 Mustangs (17-7, 0-3). It’s the first time UCI has ever swept a three-game series to open conference play.

Freshman DJ Crumlich had a three-run double in the third to break a 2-2 tie.

Senior Brock Bardeen allowed one run on five hits in three relief innings to improve to 4-0, while junior All-American Eric Pettis fanned three in two shutout innings to record his seventh save.

Sophomore Crosby Slaught gave up five runs, all earned, on nine hits in four innings.

Cal Poly, which entered the series on an eight-game win streak, left 11 men on base and committed the game’s only two errors.

UCI visits Loyola Marymount today at 3 p.m., and opens a three-game Big West series at top-ranked Cal State Fullerton Friday.

Big West Conference

UC Irvine 7, Cal Poly SLO 6

SCORE BY INNINGS

Radeke, DeVincenzi (4), Massingham (8) and Brayton; Slaught, Bardeen (5), Pettis (8) and Larson. W – Bardeen, 4-0. L – Radeke, 0-1. Sv – Pettis (7). 2B – Jensen (CP), Brayton (CP), Smith (CP), Crumlich (UCI). HR – Deragisch (UCI).