Jacob McCOMBS had undoubtedly been UC IrvineThe best striker of the whole season. The second-year transfer of the state of San Diego has turned into an All-Big West selection with its average of 0.350 and a percentage of decrease of 1.070 on the team.
So, when he arrived on the plate at the end of the fifth, at the bottom of a race against an Arizona State Southpaw taxed in Ben Jacobs – McCombs provided a real chance of opening the game in favor of the second -headed series centers with runners the first and the second.
Coach Ben Orloff called McCombs in Bunt. A perfect tap to the third base sent the two runners in a rating position with an outlet – and Irvine's canoe in noisy cheers. When his team needed it, one of his stars intensified.
“I thought it was really impressive,” said Orloff. “McCOMBS has no Bunts on the season, no season attempt, to execute it there, on the left … puts pressure on the other team. You can mark a race with an outing in this situation where you are down 3-2.”
It didn't matter to Jacobs. Faced with the pressure, the former UCLA Bruin – Raised to the Jackie Robinson Stadium, where he played in 2023 – closed Chase Call with a stick with a stick and forced Blake Penso – his former battery companion in Huntington Beach High – to go weakly on the right field on the 105th field of the Lefty night. “Complete coucle,” said Jacobs.
The heroism of McCombs' little-bullets was for nothing. When Irvine's offensive worked another opportunity to score at the bottom of the eighth after Penoo placed a sacrifice stroke, Alonso Reyes struck a double game of 4-6-3 with the loaded bases to put an end to the rally. It was one of these nights for foutres, at a time of the year when it matters most, because UC Irvine fell 4-2 In the state of Arizona, the third seeded in Friday Nightcap of Los Angeles Regional.
“I thought it was a well -played university game,” said Orloff, adding that he would have called the game in the same retrospective way. “We would like to go out on top, at the other end of it of course.”
UC Irvine moves to the support of the losers where he will face the fourth seeded Fresno State at noon on Saturday. To win the Los Angeles Regional, the Antiers will have to win – four games through Saturday, Sunday and Monday – if they want to reach the super regional NCAA.
While the offensive of UC Irvine could only produce two points and gathered only five strokes, Trevor Hansen – their AS – did his best to put the tummies on their backs. Despite the abandonment of solo circuits during the second round against Jacob Tobias and Isaiah Jackson, the right -hander settled to launch 6â…“ sleeves, abandoning six strokes and three deserved points while removing eight and walking two.
“I think the simple fact of using the mixture was something I was talking about [assistant coach Daniel Bibona] roughly, “said Hansen when he was asked to work in the seventh after the two home runs.” Not terrible locations [on the home runs]. I mean, the quick ball, 3-2, was a little struck, but the curve and the change worked well after that. “”
Hansen gave the ball to the Big West launcher of the year Ricky Ojeda With runners the first and second in the seventh. Ojeda did a quick job – inducing a focus and a removal of the stick – to escape the Channel. The Lefty launched through the ninth, abandoning one point on 40 throws in total, which could have an impact on its availability during the competition on Saturday or the house against the Bulldogs.
Ojeda launched consecutive days once in 2025, launching 32 and 35 throws against UC San Diego on May 3 to 4. Orloff said that Ojeda often about matches on the days that should be days. Now, faced with an essential situation, everything is on the bridge, said the anti -Ojeda coach included.
“I think you manage as sort of conservative things as possible throughout the season,” said Orloff. “So when it comes to this point, you can push and with [Ojeda] On 40 throws, it is back tomorrow would not be obvious. »»
UC Irvine will turn to the second year on the right of Riley Kelly Riley Kelly against Fresno State on Saturday. Kelly is 4-1 with an average of 3.92 made, but did not launch beyond the fifth round of her last four appearances.
