Mar. 5 No. 21 UC IRVINE (10-2) vs. CSU Bakersfield (8-3) - Anteater Ballpark
Mar. 7-9: No. 21 UC IRVINE at BYU (7-6)- Provo, UT

Game 13: LHP Elliot Surrey (0-0, 1.69) vs. LHP Taylor Aikenhead (2-0, 2.45)
2:00 PM - Internet Only/Mark Roberts

Game 14:  RHP Andrew Thurman (1-1, 2.95) vs. RHP Desmond Poulson (2-0, 1.23)
6:30 PM - KUCI 88.9 FM/Tim Becwar

Game 15:  LHP Matt Whitehouse (2-0, 2.11) vs. RHP Adam Miller (0-3, 4.66)
12:00 PM - KUCI 88.9 FM/Tim Becwar

Game 16:  RHP Andrew Morales (4-0, 2.60) vs. RHP Jeff Barker (2-1, 1.89)
3:00 PM - Internet Only/Tim Becwar

GAME NOTES: UCI went 5-1 last week and is third in the country with a .337 batting average. The pitching staff owns a 2.97 ERA, third-best in the Big West and is holding opposing teams to a .223 batting average, second-best in the conference. Posting 10 runs twice last week, the Anteaters have scored double-digit runs three times this season and with 81 runs scored is 32nd in the country.

WHITEHOUSE GOES THE DISTANCE: Matt Whitehouse posted his first career complete game, going the distance against Portland State in the first game of the double-header Saturday.

• The lefty struck out five and limited the Pilots to three hits while yielding an earned run and a walk.
• Whitehouse improved to 2-0 on the season and 6-0 in his career.
• The junior tops the starters with a 2.11 ERA and has 18 strikeouts to tie for third in the Big West.
• Opposing teams are hitting just .130 against Whitehouse.

MORALES TIES FOR NATIONAL LEAD: Picking up another win last weekend, Andrew Morales climbed to 4-0 and tied for first in the country in victories.

• The right-hander owns a 2.60 ERA and third on the team in strikeouts with 14.
• Against Portland Morales pitched six shutout innings and left the game with the bases loaded with two outs in the seventh.
• His five strikeouts against Portland were a career-high at UCI for the junior transfer.

TAYLOR WINS IT FOR UCI...TWICE: Dominique Taylor accounted for the game-winning runs in both games of the double-header against Portland Saturday.

• The centerfielder gave UCI the lead for good in the third with a two-run triple in game No. 1. He then came up clutch with the walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth to complete the team's come-from-behind, 8-7 victory.
• The centerfielder batted .364 and drove in a team-high nine runs in five games last week.
• Taylor had eight hits, including a double and a triple.
• He is the team leader in RBI with 16 and also leads the Big West in runs batted in with Ronnie Shaeffer sitting in second with 13.

SURREY TO START TUESDAY: Elliot Surrey will get his second start of the year Tuesday against Cal State Bakersfield.

• The lefty made his first collegiate start against LMU and pitched 2.2 innings with two strikeouts. Surrey allowed three earned runs on three hits and walked one in the no-decision.
• He returned against Portland Saturday and held the Pilots to a hit in 2/3 innings.
• Surrey is 1-0 with a 4.15 ERA and has fanned seven in 8.2 innings of work.

FERRAGAMO EARNS FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON: Junior Phillip Ferragamo made three trips to the mound last week and earned the win against LMU.

• The right-hander entered in relief and hurled 3.1 innings of shutout baseball, posting five strikeouts and walking one while scattering three hits.
• Ferragamo pitched twice against Portland, pitching a hitless inning in the series opener and then appearing again in the second game of the double-header.
• Ferragamo is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA and has 11 strikeouts in 7.1 innings of work. He has walked two and given up two runs on eight hits.

LEADING MAN STEPHENS SOLID FOR 'EATERS: Jeff Stephens led the starters last week, batting .471 in five games.

• Stephens was 8 for 17 with two doubles and three RBI batting in the leadoff spot.
• The outfielder, who has posted a hit in six straight games, had a season-best three hits and two RBI in the second game of the twin billing Saturday.
• Stephens is currently hitting .333 with 16 hits and six runs batted in.

SPENCER TOPPING THE CHARTS: Connor Spencer holds the highest batting average among the starters at .423.

• Third in the conference in batting average, Spencer has reached safely in 12 straight games and owns an eight-game hitting streak.
• The first baseman went 7 for 17 last week, including a double, a triple and four RBI.
• Spencer recorded the game-winning RBI against LMU with a key single in the fifth as UCI posted an eventual 10-3 decision.

COOPER TESTS OUT DH ROLE: Ryan Cooper made his first appearances of the season last weekend and batted .500.

• Cooper pinch-hit in the opening game against the Pilots and filled the DH spot Saturday and Sunday.
• In the second game of the double-header, Cooper was 2 for 2 with two runs scored. After a sacrifice, Cooper singled twice and then reached safely on an error. The sophomore plated the game-winning run in UCI's 8-7 victory.
• Sunday he doubled down the right-field line to drive in two runs and was 1 for 4 with a run scored.
• On the season Cooper is 3 for 6 with three runs scored and two RBI.

THE HITS KEEP COMING FOR SHAEFFER: Ronnie Shaeffer batted .350 with seven hits last week to up his total to a conference-leading 22.

• Shaeffer is ranked sixth in the nation in hits and is four behind national leader, Daniel Rockett  (UTSA) who has 26.
• The catcher leads UCI with eight multiple-hit games and is second with three multiple-RBI contests.
• Shaeffer is second on the team with 13 RBI and has two home runs to hold the team-high.

RABAGO ON THE RISE: Chris Rabago also had a strong week for the team, batting .353 with six hits.

• The shortstop led the team with five runs scored last week and is tied for second on the team with 10.
• Rabago opened the five-game stretch, going 2 for 4 with a double and scored three times, including crossing the plate as the game-winning run against the Lions.
• He ended the week with his fourth multiple-hit game of the season, batting 2 for 4 with an RBI. 

LITCHFIELD LEADS BIG WEST: Jimmy Litchfield has made seven appearances in relief to lead the conference.

• Litchfield made three appearances last week, striking out three in 2.2 innings.
• The lefty is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA and has given up a run on three hits while walking two.

ROADRUNNERS OFF TO A FAST START: CSU Bakersfield has opened the season at 8-3.

• Dylan Christensen leads the team with a .442 batting average and 10 RBI.
• CSUB has out-scored opposing teams 63-39 and the pitching staff owns a 2.91 ERA.
• Lefty Taylor Aikenhead will go up against Elliot Surrey Tuesday.
• Aikenhead is 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA and has posted 11 strikeouts in 11 innings.
• UCI leads the series 7-2 after winning two of three games last season.

ABOUT THE COUGARS: BYU is 7-6 on the season after and have won five of the last six games.

• BYU has posted three shutouts this season and reached double-figures in runs scored twice.
• The Cougars played No. 2 LSU twice and came away with a split.
• A trio of right-handers will take the mound against the Anteaters.
• Opening the series is Desmond Poulson, who is 2-0 with a 1.23 ERA. Poulson has struck out 18 in 22 innings and walked just six while allowing three earned runs.
• Adam Miller will be looking for his first win this weekend and is 0-3 with a 4.66 ERA. The junior has 15 strikeouts in 19.1 innings and is holding the opposition to a .203 batting average.
• Closing out the series is Jeff Barker, who is 2-1 and boasts a 1.89 ERA. Barker has 10 strikeouts in 19 innings and has yielded four earned runs while walking six.
• The Anteaters are 8-8 against the Cougars. UCI won two of three games last year at Anteater Ballpark.

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