'EATERS TACKLE AZTECS, DIRTBAGS: UC Irvine (18-14, 4-5 Big West) breaks briefly from non-conference action against San Diego State (18-20) Tuesday at Cicerone Field at Anteater Ballpark. The Anteaters then face off against a Big West leader for the second straight week as UCI takes Long Beach State (16-17, 7-2 Big West) in the Black and Blue Rivalry series this weekend (Apr. 20-22) at Blair Field.
HOW THINGS LOOK: Currently UC Irvine sits in a three-way tie for fourth in the Big West at 4-5. Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State share the top spot at 7-2 while Cal Poly is in third at 5-4. Also in fourth are UC Santa Barbara and Cal State Northridge at 4-5 while UC Davis and UC Riverside are both 2-4 in seventh place. Pacific rounds out the standings at 1-5.
THURMAN NEARLY NO-HITS TITANS, VOTED CO-PITCHER OF THE WEEK: Andrew Thurman (Orange/Orange Lutheran HS) held Cal State Fullerton hitless through eight innings before his no-hit bid was marred in the ninth by an infield single and earned Big West Co-Pitcher of the Week honors for his stellar performance. The eight-inning effort was a career-high for the sophomore, who left the ninth after a single, a walk and a 4-0 lead in what was his best performance to date. A run was later added to his line as the Titans eked out a run but the bullpen delivered and Thurman collected the win to improve to 3-2 after striking out six.
The honor is the first for Thurman, who opens the series against Long Beach State Friday, and the fifth for the Anteaters this season.
PAULINO PACES 'EATERS: Freshman Kris Paulino (Ladera Ranch/Tesoro HS) posted a .429 average in two games, going 3 for 7 with a triple and two RBI to lead UC Irvine. Paulino was 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI in the series opener against the Titans and then hit his first triple of the year Sunday while adding a run batted in and a run scored. Paulino increased his average to .234 and the outfielder has 11 hits and six RBI on the year.
PARMENTER SAVES IT FOR WEEK'S LONE WIN: Race Parmenter (Huntington Beach/Edison HS) was called from the bullpen facing a bases-loaded, no-out situation in the ninth against the Titans and faced two batters to earn his fourth save of the year. Parmenter induced a double-play groundball to short that was followed by a roller to third to preserve UCI's lead.
Parmenter was called from the bullpen again Sunday and promptly struck out the side in the ninth. The right-hander owns a 2.08 ERA and has 13 strikeouts in 13 innings. He is holding opposing teams to a .234 average.
FOX, RAMIREZ STAY STEADY FOR UCI: Seniors Jordan Fox (Hacienda Heights/Bishop Amat HS) and Christian Ramirez (Santa Ana/Cypress College) have remained consistent for the Anteaters with both players hitting .333 in three games last week.
Fox was 4 for 12 with two doubles, an RBI and a steal. The first baseman singled twice and scored once in the series opener and tacked on a run-scoring double in the second game. Fox doubled again Sunday to extend his hit streak to 11 games. The first baseman is hitting .333 with 42 hits and a team-high 22 RBI. He has been hit by the pitch 10 times to lead the team and also paces the 'Eaters in steals with seven.
Ramirez was 3 for 9 with a run scored over the weekend series. The centerfielder was 2 for 4 in UCI's win Saturday and scored once on a passed ball. He then reached safely twice in the next game on a hit and a fielder's choice. Ramirez is batting .316 with 31 hits and 15 RBI. He is second with six doubles and tied for second with three triples.
SLAUGHT GETS TUESDAY START: Senior Crosby Slaught (Santa Barbara/HS) will get the ball Tuesday against the Aztecs. Slaught struggled against the Titans, lasting 1.2 innings and giving up a season-high five runs on four hits while walking three to fall to 3-3 on the year. The right-hander has a 4.01 ERA and tops the Big West pitchers with 10 starts. He has tossed 42.2 innings and struck out 28 while giving up 19 earned runs.
FERRAGAMO FARES WELL, BUT FALLS: Sophomore Philip Ferragamo (Orange/Canyon HS) entered in relief Sunday for starter Jimmy Litchfield (La Habra/Sonora HS) and retired nine straight batters before giving up a two-run home run that broke a 2-2 tie and proved the be the difference in a 5-3 loss for UCI. The right-hander pitched 4.2 innings and struck out three while giving up three runs (two earned) on six hits to fall to 3-4.
Ferragamo, who will start Saturday against the Dirtbags, has held the opposition to two earned runs or less in nine of the last 10 appearances, including three starts. He holds a 3.93 ERA and has pitched 36.2 innings with 28 strikeouts
A LOOK AT THE AZTECS: San Diego State is 18-20 and 7-5 in the WAC. The Aztecs snapped a four-game losing streak with a win against New Mexico in the series finale Sunday. The team, which is hitting .286, is led by Matt Munoz (.347) while Chris Wilson tops the team with 20 RBI. Greg Allen is SDSU's hit leader with 45.
Tentatively scheduled to make the start Tuesday is right-hander Philip Walby, who is 0-2 with a 4.91 ERA. Walby has five strikeouts in 14.2 innings and has walked four while giving up eight earned runs.
THE SERIES: UCI trails 29-47-1 in the series against the Aztecs. The Anteaters have won nine of the last 10 games, including capturing a pair of victories in 2011.
A LOOK AT THE DIRTBAGS: Long Beach State is 16-17 overall (7-2 Big West) and have won six straight. The Dirtbags are hitting .257 and are led by Patrick Ino, who is batting .319 with 37 hits. Brennan Metzger is the team's RBI leader with 19 and tops LBSU in steals with eight.
The starting rotation for Long Beach State is a 11-3 on the year.
Opening the series will be right-hander Matt Anderson. Anderson is 3-1 with a 2.80 ERA. He has 39 strikeouts in 54.2 innings and walked 21 while giving up 17 earned runs.
Southpaw Shawn Stuart, LBSU's Saturday starter, is 4-0 and boasts a 2.06 ERA. Stuart has 52.1 innings pitched and 44 strikeouts. He is holding opposing teams to a .190 average and walked 19 while giving up 12 earned runs.
Righty Ryan Strufing is slated to pitch Sunday and owns a 4-2 win-loss record. Strufing holds a 2.66 ERA and has fanned 31 in 50.2 innings.
THE SERIES: UCI leads Long Beach State, 60-47-1 in the all-time series record books. The Anteaters will look to avenge a series loss in 2011 after dropping two of three games at Anteater Ballpark.
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