Ben Orloff's two-run single put UCI on the board

Feb. 27, 2008

IRVINE, Calif. --- Shortstop Ben Orloff and outfielder Ryan Fisher each had two runs batted in to lead No. 20 UC Irvine to a 7-3 win over USC Wednesday at Anteater Ballpark. With the win, UCI climbed to 4-0 while the Trojans fell to 3-2 overall.

Anteater starter Daniel Bibona gave UCI a solid effort on the mound, pitching six innings and striking out five. The southpaw held the Trojans to a run on three hits while walking one to earn his first decision of the season (1-0). Reliever Matt Dufour gave UCI another strong effort with a pair of strikeouts in two hitless innings. Eric Pettis logged his second save, giving up a walk in .1 innings.

USC started the scoring, breaking a scoreless tie in the top of the fifth on Derek Perren's sacrifice fly to plate Mike Roskpf.

UCI responded in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring four runs off starter Anthony Vasquez. Infielder Eric Deragisch singled to lead off the frame. Outfielder Tony Asaro drew a one-out walk and centerfielder Ollie Linton was hit by the pitch to load the bases for Orloff, who worked the count full before sending a single back up the middle to give UCI a 2-1 lead. Outfielder Ryan Fisher doubled in Linton and Orloff for the 4-1 edge.

The Anteaters struck again in the eighth, as second baseman Josh Tavelli's double scored infielder Jeff Cusick, who greeted reliever Jeff Grijalva with a single up the middle. Outfielder Dillon Bell singled to right to plate Tavelli and Bell would later score on an RBI hit from Linton to widen the margin to 7-1.

The Trojans scored twice in the ninth. Hector Rabago's two-out single scored Roberto Lopez and a UCI fielding error extended the inning as Rabago crossed the plate for another USC run. Will Rice's single went off the glove of reliever Tom Calahan and Mike O'Neill drew a walk to load the bases but Nick Buss flew out to Linton to end the game.

Tavelli paced the Anteater attack with three hits going 3 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored while designated hitter Francis Larson went 2 for 4.

Vasquez struck out four in 4.1 innings but gave up four runs on five hits to fall to 0-1.