SAN DIEGO — San Diego baseball (30-13, 14-4 WCC) scored four times across the final five innings of its Tuesday night matchup against UC Irvine (33-8, 14-4 Big West) but could not overcome an early offensive surge from the Anteaters, dropping a tough 8-4 decision in a midweek non-conference contest at Fowler Park.

Justin DeCriscio, Dustin Allen, and Gabe D'Arcy all drove in runs in the defeat. Five San Diego relief pitchers teamed up to hold UCI scoreless across the game's final five frames.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• UCI struck for eight runs across the top of the second, third, and fourth innings with a handful of RBI singles, an RBI double, and a pair of solo home runs.
• The Toreros got on the board in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI groundout from DeCriscio, scoring Allen to make it 8-1.
• San Diego loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth before Allen notched a sacrifice lineout to score Jack Gurevitch from third, cutting the deficit to 8-2.   
• Sacrifice flies in the bottom of the eighth and ninth allowed San Diego to claim two more runs to make it 8-4, but it got no closer.                                                                                                                                                               

ON THE MOUND

• Alex Schrier entered out of the bullpen in relief of starter Ryan Kysar in the third inning and pitched the next 1.2 innings, allowing just one run on seven hits with a strikeout. 
• Vaughn Mauterer then pitched a scoreless fifth inning, allowing just one hit.
• Thurman entered in the sixth inning with the bases loaded and one out and worked his way out of trouble before finishing his night with 1.2 scoreless innings.
• JD Goodcase and Tristan Lamaison combined to pitch scoreless eighth and ninth innings.

TORERO TIDBITS

• Three of San Diego's four runs on Tuesday night came via sacrifice bunts or sacrifice flies.
• The Torero bullpen held the Anteater offense scoreless across the game's final five innings..
• Allen recorded a pair of impressive highlight-reel catches in center-field on Tuesday night and was also 1-for-2 at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI.
• DeCriscio was 2-for-4 with a team-high two RBIs.

UP NEXT
The Toreros are back in action this weekend, when they close out their home West Coast Conference schedule by hosting Santa Clara for a three-game series. First pitch against the Broncos on Friday night is set for 6:05 p.m.