Apr. 30: No. 21 UC Irvine (28-12) at UCLA (27-13) - Jackie Robinson Stadium
May 3-5: UC Irvine (28-12, 10-5) at UCSB (23-19, 8-7) - Caesar Uyesaka Stadium

Game 41: Mitch Merten (3-1, 4.96) vs. RHP Cody Poteet (2-0, 2.90)
6:00 PM - KUCI 88.9 FM/Mark Roberts

Game 42:  RHP Andrew Thurman (4-3, 2.64) vs. RHP Austin Pettibone (6-2, 2.60)
3:00 PM - KUCI 88.9 FM/Mark Roberts

Game 43:  LHP Matt Whitehouse (4-4, 3.12) vs. LHP Justin Jacome (4-3, 4.29)
2:00 PM - KUCI 88.9 FM/Mark Roberts

Game 44:  RHP Andrew Morales (9-0, 1.60) vs. TBA
1:00 PM - Internet/Mark Roberts

Game Notes: UCI won its fourth Big West Conference series and collected its second Big West sweep in a series that was highlighted by two walk-off wins.

• Head coach Mike Gillespie is nine wins away from his 1,000th career victory. His record currently stands at 991-580-2 and among active coaches he is ranked 16th in wins.
• Andrew Morales's scoreless innings streak ended at 26 1/3 innings and he had a three-game win streak snapped. However, the right-hander remains undefeated at 9-0 after UCI's come-from-behind win Sunday.
• Jerry McClanahan has reached safely in 14 consecutive games to lead the team.
• The Anteaters are second in the Big West in ERA at 3.08, tied for first in batting average at .288 and are first in fielding percentage at .984.
• The Anteaters suffered its worst loss since 1989 in an 18-2 defeat against San Diego State, halting a five-game win streak in the series against the Aztecs.
• The pitching staff held UC Davis to four runs or less in all three games and have allowed four runs or less in five of the last seven games.
• The offense posted 12 hits in the Saturday win against the Aggies and recorded double-digit hits in 18 games this season.

WALK-OFF WINS HIGHLIGHT WEEKEND SERIES: UCI was pushed to the ninth in the series opener and finale but came out with the sweep, thanks to game-winning heroics from Ryan Cooper and Connor Spencer.

• Cooper came off the bench Friday night and squeezed home pinch-runner Justin Castro to give UCI the 5-4 win.
• Cooper is now batting .800 with runners on third and less than two outs.
• Spencer came up to the plate Sunday with the bases juiced and two outs. The first baseman sent a 1-2 pitch to the right-centerfield fence to drive in the tying and winning runs as UCI won 4-3.
• Spencer was 6 for 16 in four games with four RBI. He doubled twice to take over the team lead in doubles with 13.
• Spencer tops the Big West with a .384 average and is also first with a .466 on-base percentage.

MERTEN ON THE MOUND TUESDAY: Mitch Merten will make the start against the Bruins this Tuesday.

• The right-hander last started against San Diego State and held the Aztecs to a run on five hits in three innings of work while striking out four.
• Merten then pitched a shutout inning Friday against UC Davis, striking out one and walking two to earn the win.
• He upped his record to 4-1 and holds a 4.43 ERA. Merten has fanned 21 in 20.1 innings and given up 10 runs while walking eight.

SPARKS CONTINUES TO FIRE UP 'EATER OFFENSE: Taylor Sparks hit .467 in four games last week, batting 7 for 15 with a home run and five RBI.

• The third baseman had two hits in three of the last four games and accounted for a game-winning RBI.
• After posting a two-hit game against the Aztecs, Sparks put UCI on the board Friday in the first with a two-out single that plated Chris Rabago.
• He then tied the game up in the sixth with a solo home run for his seventh round-tripper of the year.
• Sparks then went 2 for 3 with three RBI in the win Saturday, driving in the game-winning run in the first. The sophomore crossed up the Aggie defense with a bunt single that again scored Chris Rabago.
• Sparks capped off the weekend with a hit Sunday. He is hitting .354 to sit second on the team but leads UCI with 36 RBI and seven home runs.
• In Big West games, Sparks leads the conference with a .414 average, .672 slugging percentage and in RBI with 20.

STEPHENS BACK IN THE GAME: Senior Jeff Stephens made his first appearance since Mar. 12 after sitting out with an injury.

• The outfielder was 2 for 5 at the plate in two games, posting both hits in the win Saturday.
• Stephens is hitting .278 with 20 hit and seven RBI.

RABAGO RAKES IN LEADOFF SPOT: The Anteaters have gone 12-4 since giving the leadoff responsibilities to Chris Rabago.

• The shortstop batted .308 last week, going 4 for 13 with a double and two RBI.
• Rabago was held without a hit against SDSU but had at least one hit in the series sweep over the weekend.
• He led off the bottom of the first with a hit in the first two games and scored both times.
• His double Sunday cut the Aggie lead to one at 3-2 and he plated the game-winning run on Connor Spencer's double in the ninth.

LITCHFIELD, PARMENTER HOLD DOWN DAVIS: Jimmy Litchfield and Race Parmenter both entered late in the game and pitched scoreless stints against Davis.

• Parmenter cruised through the Aggie ninth Sunday and emerged with the win to improve to 2-2.
• The right-hander has 17 strikeouts in 17.2 inning and is holding opposing teams to a .167 average.
• Parmenter has surrendered five earned runs while walking 10.
• Litchfield made three appearances last week. He halted the Aztec offense briefly by retiring the final two batters of the sixth.
• With the score tied at 4-4 Friday and the go-ahead run on third, Litchfield induced a grounder to first to leave the runner stranded.
• The southpaw then induced three fly-ball outs Sunday to keep the deficit at one run.
• Litchfield is 1-0 with a 1.45 ERA. He has fanned 11 in 18.2 innings and allowed just three earned runs in 19 appearances.

WIN FOR WHITEHOUSE: After struggling consecutive Saturdays, Matt Whitehouse hurled 7.2 strong innings to get back into the win column.

• The lefty, who is 4-4 with a 3.12 ERA, struck out eight and walked just one while allowing a pair of runs on seven hits.
• Whitehouse blanked the Aggies for seven innings  before yielding two runs in the eighth.
• His eight strikeouts are one shy of tying his season-best of nine, posted against Hawai'i.

BRUINS BATTLE PART II: In their first meeting this year, UCI took an early 4-1 lead but eventually fell in extra innings to suffer the first loss against a ranked opponent.

• The Bruins will hand the ball to Cody Poteet, who pitched 5.2 innings in the two teams' last meeting.
• Poteet gave up four runs, three earned and struck out four but did not factor in the decision.
• Kevin Kramer leads the team with a .276 average and is tied for first with 40 hits.
• Pat Valaika holds the RBI lead with 30 and has a team-leading 12 doubles and four home runs.
• Brian Carroll has stolen 22 bases and is hitting .262 with 39 hits and 14 RBI.
• UCI trails UCLA 27-47-1 in the series record after the Bruins registered a 6-4 win earlier this month.

GAUCHOS IN THE HUNT: UCSB is 8-7 in the Big West and tied for fifth in the standings after winning two of three against UC Riverside.

• The Gauchos boast a 15-7 record at home and are led by Robby Nesovic, who is batting .353.
• Tyler Kuresa tops the team with 51 hits, 12 doubles and 33 RBI.
• Austin Pettibone is slated to face Andrew Thurman in the series opener. Pettibone pitched seven innings against the Highlanders and yielded five runs (two earned) on 10 hits while striking out three to climb to 6-2.
• Justin Jacome is scheduled to take the mound Saturday. The lefty logged 7.2 scoreless innings against the Highlanders and struck out six while yielding just two walks and two hits to improve to 4-3.
• UCI holds a 49-45 series lead against the Gauchos. The Anteaters swept UCSB in 2012 at Cicerone Field.

 

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