College Roundup: Pitching falters as UCI drops doubleheader

BASEBALL

Doubleheader

LINCOLN, Neb. — UC Irvine pitching, which had been a highlight for the Anteaters, gave up 33 combined hits and 20 combined runs as host Nebraska swept a nonconference doubleheader on Saturday.

The Cornhuskers won the first game, 13-4, behind 19 hits, then collected a 7-4 victory in Game 2.

UCI’s Justin Castro went three for four with a run scored in the opener and Chris Rabago was three for five in the second game for the ‘Eaters.

Also in the second game, Connor Spencer (one run batted in) and Taylor Sparks (one run scored) were both two for four.

Senior starting pitcher Evan Brock allowed nine hits and three earned runs in 6 1/3 innings of Game 2. All seven UCI pitchers that worked allowed at least one run, with six hurlers allowing at least two earned runs. The ‘Eaters’ staff earned-run average went from 1.92 to 2.67.

UCI is 13-6.

Nebraska is 11-7.

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MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

BYU def. UC Irvine

PROVO, Utah — The No. 8-ranked Anteaters hit a season-low .146 in a 25-22, 25-22, 25-167 setback at No. 3-ranked BYU in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation play on Friday.

Connor Hughes had 10 kills and two aces to lead UCI (14-9, 11-8 in conference). Jeremy Dejno had eight kills and setter Daniel Stork had 27 assists and five digs.

BYU improved to 14-4, 14-2.

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WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD

Anteater Four-way

UC Irvine junior Itos Aikhionbare won two events for the second straight week Saturday in the home opener against Long Beach State, Purdue and Cerritos Community College.

Aikhionbare, the reigning Big West Conference Field Athlete of the Week, earned titles in the shot put (54 feet, 4 1/2 inches) and the discus (161-5).

Kaulyn Lee-McNeill won the 400-meter hurdles in one minute, 0.68 seconds, ahead of UCI teammate Paige Bushnell (1:02.39) who was second.

Ericka Nowell was second in the 400 in 55.57.

Ariel Cheng was second in the pole vault at 11 feet, 9 inches.

Megan George was third in the 100 hurdles in 14.12 seconds, while UCI teammate Marie Brashears was third in the 800 (2:14.49).

UCI’s Tiana Carter was third in the long jump (17-11).

Bridget Devaney was fourth in the hammer throw (161-10), while Colleen Lillig was fourth in the 3,000 in 10:13.77 and Madelyn Sando was fourth in the high jump (4-11).

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MEN’S TRACK & FIELD

Anteater Four-way

UC Irvine freshman Isaiah Thompson and sophomore Cameron Vaca won events Saturday at Anteater Stadium.

Thompson finished first in the 1,500 meters with a time of 3 minutes, 54.65 seconds and Vaca was first in the 400 hurdles in 53.82 seconds.

Mike Kennedy was second in the 100 meters in 10.80.

Mason Miller placed third in the shot put (55 feet, 4 3/4 inches) and was fifth in the discus (158-8).

Stephen Brown was third in the pole vault (15-4 1/4) and Kyle Hubbard was third in the long jump (21-10) for the ‘Eaters.

Austin Pollock was fourth in the hammer throw (164-11) for UCI.

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MEN’S TENNIS

UC Irvine 6, Army 1

Ryan Cheung and Caryl Hernandez both won in singles and doubles to help the Anteaters prevail in the nonconference match Saturday at Newport Beach Country Club.

Cheung won at No. 1 singles, 7-6, 6-4, and teamed with Jonathan Poon to produce am 8-3 win at No. 2 doubles to help UCI (8-9) earn the doubles point.

Army is 7-3.

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WOMEN’S TENNIS

UC Irvine 4, Penn 3

The host Anteaters won four of six singles matches to claim the nonconference match Saturday.

Franziska Goettsching, Ali Facey, Kat Facey and Sarah Stadfelt won at Nos. 3-6 singles, respectively as UCI improved to 8-5.

Kat Facey and Stadfelt won at No. 3 doubles, but the Quakers claimed the doubles points.

Penn is 6-3.