The win improved the Hornets to 19-29 overall and 1-15 in the Big West Conference. The Anteaters dropped to 29-22 overall and 10-6 in league games.

Greoger, who picked up a complete-game win at Fresno State last weekend, was sharp from the beginning. The Diamond Bar, Calif., native faced the minimum through the first four innings before UCI finally scored a run in the fifth inning on an RBI double by R.J. Brown. For the game, the senior struck out eight batters while walking just one.

Sacramento State opened the game’s scoring with a solo home run by Casey Fuller in the fifth inning. After the Anteaters tied the game in the bottom of the inning, the Hornets posted two runs in the sixth to take the lead for good. Sacramento State pushed its lead to 4-1 in the top of the eighth with a single run.

UCI attempted to rally in the bottom of the eighth but managed just one run on a sacrifice fly from Matt Anderson.

As a team, the Hornets collected eight hits. Fuller (2-for-5) was the lone player with more than one hit. Pedro Santiago and Bobby Ciani each came off the bench to knock in a run for the team.

Irvine tallied seven hits led by Brown and Brett Dalton who each had two. Brett Smith took the loss for the Anteaters after allowing two runs in five innings of work.

The two teams will continue the three-game series on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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