IRVINE – University’s baseball team used one big inning to get past Woodbridge, 8-7, in a Pacific Coast League game at Ryan Lemmon Stadium Friday afternoon.
The Trojans cashed in two walks, two hit batters, two hits and an error in the third inning to score five runs. Chris Kawata had a two-run single in the inning.
University (7-12, 3-4) eventually looked to Eric Brunst to close out the game on the mound.
Brunst, normally a starter, notched his first save, blanking the Warriors (7-12, 4-3) in the final 12/3 innings.
“We came in 2-4 after the last loss; it was definitely big because it would put us in a big hole if we had lost this game,” Brunst said. “We came out, fell behind early and came back and held on to the lead. It was a really big win.”
The victory helped University salvage one of the three league games with Woodbridge.
“We were down 3-0 and they clobbered us twice,” University coach Chris Conlin said. “We got hit and got some walks and a couple of timely hits. I’m happy for the kids and the coaches who have worked hard with them every day.”
Freshman Troy Lombardo came on to relieve University starter Neil Boudreau in the fourth inning. He alllowed two runs before giving way to Brunst.
Woodbridge took a lead with three runs in the second inning. Jackson Lyon drove home a run with a single and Michael Pritchett knocked in another with a squeeze bunt.
But the Trojans took a 5-3 lead in the third inning and then extended their lead with three more runs in the fourth. Maverick Freedlander drove home two runs with a double and Alex Uy delivered an RBI single to put the Trojans ahead, 8-3.
However Woodbridge scored two runs in the fourth and fifth innings to cut the lead to 8-7. In the fifth, Jack Martine had a pinch-hit RBI single and Pritchett drove in another when he reached on a fielder’s choice.
Uy and Boudreau had two hits each. Jake Larson was 3 for 4 with two runs for Woodbridge.
“Baseball is all execution and effort and I thought they did a better job playing the game today,” Woodbridge coach Tim Murray said.
Contact the writer: tburt@ocregiser.com