'EATERS LOOK TO REBOUND AGAINST TITANS: UC Irvine, 3-3 in the Big West (17-12),  looks to rebound after being suffering a sweep in San Luis Obispo last weekend. The Anteaters return home to Anteater Ballpark to host Big West-leader Cal State Fullerton in a conference series beginning Friday (Apr. 13). First pitch Friday is set for 6:30 p.m. with Saturday's contest slated for 1:00 p.m. The series finale will begin at 2:00 p.m. All three games will be broadcast on KUCI 88.9 FM with Mark Roberts and Tim Becwar calling the action.

SUNDAY GAME ON TV: UC Irvine's Sunday game against CS Fullerton will be televised on ESPNU with first pitch scheduled for 2:03 p.m. Calling the action will be Mark Neely with Mike Rooney providing color commentary.

McCLANAHAN HAS SEASON-HIGH WEEK: Freshman Jerry McClanahan (Temple City/Bishop Amat HS)  posted an .875 on-base percentage and hit .750 (3 for 4) in two games last week at Cal Poly. McClanahan started Friday and doubled twice and drew four consecutive walks before being retired for the first time in the series in his third at-bat Saturday. McClanahan was 2 for 2 with a run scored Friday and walked twice and was 1 for 2 Saturday. McClanahan upped his average to .250 with 10 hits and has six RBI.

FOX KEEPS PACE: Senior Jordan Fox (Hacienda Heights/Bishop Amat HS) continues to swing the bat for 'Eaters, hitting .333 in the series against Cal Poly. Fox singled in his first at-bat of the series and then added an RBI hit Friday to give UCI a 1-0 lead. In the series finale, the first baseman was 2 for 4 with a double and a single. He is hitting .333 on the season with 38 hits and is first on the team with 21 RBI.

DUAL EFFORT KEEPS STEALS TO A MINIMUM: With the loss of Ronnie Shaeffer (Garden Grove/Pacifica HS) out due to an injury (broken finger), freshmen catchers Jerry McClanahan and Chris Rabago (Riverside/Riverside Poly HS) have stepped in to keep opposing base-runners in check. The duo have combined to throw out 13 of 20 steal attempts for a .650 average.

McClanahan has thrown out four straight runners while Rabago at one point had snuffed out five straight attempts before the Mustangs posted a steal last Thursday. Overall, opposing teams are being held to a .417 average in steals.

ROAD WOES:  The Anteaters dropped to 2-6 on the road and were swept for the first time by a Big West Conference opponent since losing three straight to Long Beach State in 2006. It was also the first time UCI had been swept by Cal Poly since moving to Division I. The Mustangs last swept the Anteaters in 1977 in UCI's last year as a Division II institution.

SPENCER STAYS ON TOP OF BIG WEST: Connor Spencer (Trabuco Canyon/Tesoro HS) continues to lead the Big West in hitting with a .405 average. The freshman also is third in slugging at .557 and second with a .489 on-base percentage. Spencer went 3 for 11 (.273) with a double and an RBI and now has 32 hits and 14 RBI on the year.

CRUMLICH TIED FOR FIRST IN DOUBLES: D.J. Crumlich (Irvine/HS) knocked his 10th double of the season and is in a six-way tie for first in the Big West in doubles. Crumlich posted his fourth three-hit game of the season in the series opener but then was held hitless Friday to snap a 10-game hitting streak for the shortstop. Crumlich is batting .325 with a team-high 39 hits. He is fifth on the team with 12 RBI.

MOORE MAKES HIS COLLEGIATE DEBUT: Freshman Sam Moore (Rancho Palos Verdes/Palos Verdes Peninsula HS) made his first appearance as an Anteater Thursday night. The right-hander pitched a perfect eighth inning and struck out one.

THURMAN TO OPEN SERIES AGAINST TITANS: Sophomore Andrew Thurman (Orange/Orange Lutheran HS) will take on the Titans under the Friday night lights. The right-hander fell to 2-2 after giving up a season-high six runs against Cal Poly last week. Thurman pitched five innings and struck out six. He is 2-2 with a 4.39 ERA and has struck out 32 in 41 innings while giving up 20 earned runs.

SLAUGHT TO START SATURDAY: Senior Crosby Slaught (Santa Barbara/HS) will look to improve on his 3-2 mark. The right-hander gave way to the Anteater bullpen after four innings and gave up a run on three hits while striking out two and walking four in a no-decision. Slaught holds a 3.07 ERA  and has fanned 27 in 41 innings. Has allowed 14 earned runs and walked 20 on the season. 

ABOUT THE TITANS: Cal State Fullerton is 21-10 overall and leads the Big West with a 5-1 record after sweeping UC Davis. The Titans are led by Michael Lorenzen, who is hitting .347 with 43 hits and 20 RBI. Lorenzen is tied with Crumlich with 10 doubles to go along with two triples and 11 stolen bases. He is also the team's closer with 11 saves and boasts a 0.75 ERA. Carlos Lopez is second among the starters with a .345 average, 41 hits and 19 RBI.

The pitching staff owns a 2.96 ERA with Dylan Floro topping the team with five wins at 5-2. Floro has logged 60 innings, striking out 38 and allowed 15 earned runs on 55 hits.

THE SERIES: Cal State Fullerton has a 72-37 lead in the all-time series record against the Anteater. The Titans have won two of three the last two years against UCI.

________________________________________________________________

For UC Irvine Athletics ticket information, please call (949) 824-5000 or e-mail athletics.tickets@uci.edu. For more information click here.

For information on how you can help support UC Irvine Athletics, please call (949) 824-6933 or e-mail aaf@uci.edu. For additional information, click here.

You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.