UC Irvine Hosts USC, Long Beach State; Fireworks Friday, Senior Day Saturday

May 21: UC Irvine (31-20) vs. USC (19-33) - Anteater Ballpark
May 23-25: UC Irvine (31-20, 13-11) vs. Long Beach State (28-25, 14-10)

Game 52: RHP Evan Brock (2-1, 3.41) vs. LHP Sean Silva (1-2, 4.32)
6:30 PM - KUCI 88.9 FM/Mark Roberts & Tim Becwar

Game: 53: RHP Andrew Thurman (5-4, 3.15) vs. RHP Shane Carle (4-8, 2.91)
6:30 PM - KUCI 88.9 FM/Mark Roberts & Tim Becwar

Game 54: LHP Matt Whitehouse (4-6, 3.22) vs. LHP Jake Stassi (4-3, 2.75)
6:30 PM - KUCI 88.9 FM/Mark Roberts & Tim Becwar

Game 55:  RHP Andrew Morales (10-0, 1.85) vs. RHP David Hill (4-2, 4-02)
1:00 PM - KUCI 88.9/Mark Roberts & Tim Becwar

Game Notes: UC Irvine looks to rebound from its first 0-4 week against USC and Long Beach State this weekend. The UCI-USC contest is a rescheduled game from May 7 resulting from inclement weather.

  • This weekend's three games series, which runs Thursday through Saturday, is a Black and Blue Rivalry series. LBSU currently leads UCI 25-21 but a series win, worth four points, would tie the score for the Anteaters.
  • Immediately following Friday's contest, UC Irvine Athletics will have its annual Fireworks Extravaganza. Due to safety considerations, access to the Mesa Structure will be limited prior to and during the show. Fans who do not wish to stay for the fireworks show are asked to park in Lot 7 (cross streets: West Peltason/Mesa Road).
  • The series finale Saturday marks Senior Day for the Anteater Baseball program. Seniors Scott Gottschling, Andy Lines, Race Parmenter, Jeff Stephens, Ronnie Shaeffer and graduating junior, Matt Whitehouse will be honored in a brief pre-game ceremony prior to the game.
  • The Anteaters hold the third-best fielding percentage in the nation at .981. Topping the list is Mercer at .982.
  • UCI is also fifth in the country in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.15) and 12th in walks allowed per nine innings (2.49).

TAYLOR TOPS TEAM: Dominique Taylor led the Anteaters last week, batting .412 and recording seven hits, including two triples and three runs scored.

  • With two triples, Taylor moved into a tie for first on the team with four, sharing the lead with Taylor Sparks.
  • Taylor currently owns a team-high 11-game hitting streak.
  • He drove in a run one on hit against San Diego and then went 2 for 4 with a triple and plated the first UCI run in the sixth Friday.
  • After tacking on a hit Saturday, Taylor answered the call again Sunday, batting 3 for 5 with two runs scored.
  • Taylor launched his fourth triple and scored in the fourth to cut a 2-0 Titan lead in half. The triple was initially ruled a home run before it was overturned.
  • Taylor is third on the team with a .310 average, 66 hits and 13 doubles. He is fourth with 31 runs batted in.

MCCLANAHAN MAKES NOISE: Jerry McClanahan also provided plenty of offense last week, hitting .333  and batting 4 for 12 with an RBI and three runs scored.

  • McClanahan posted a hit and a run scored against the Toreros and then was 2 for 3 Saturday. He scored UCI's first run after reaching second on a single and an error with two outs in the ninth.
  • In the series finale, McClanahan doubled in a run and scored once in the eighth, giving UCI a 5-2 lead.
  • The sophomore is hitting .260 with 32 hits and 16 RBI.

BROCK ON THE MOUND: Right-hander Evan Brock will take on lefty Sean Silva in a Tuesday match-up.

  • Brock is 2-1 with a 3.41 ERA. He made three appearances last week, pitching two hitless innings against San Diego.
  • He added a scoreless third Saturday against the Titans but gave up the walk-off home run Sunday.
  • Brock has fanned 27 in 34.1 innings and walked just nine while giving up 13 earned runs.
  • The earned run surrendered by Brock Sunday is just the second he has given up in the last six appearances (Apr. 27).

SPARKS STILL LIGHTING UP BIG WEST: Taylor Sparks hit .313 in four games, posting five hits and three runs batted in and remains the conference leader in Big West-only games.

  • Sparks, who is riding a 10-game hitting streak, had a hit in each of the first three games before posting his 21st multiple-hit game Sunday.
  • He drove in UCI's second run Friday to give the Anteaters a 2-0 lead and singled Saturday but was left stranded.
  • In the series finale, Sparks gave UCI the 3-2 lead in the sixth with an RBI single and he scored UCI's fourth run in the eighth.
  • In Big West-only games, Sparks leads the conference in batting average (.418), slugging (.694), hits (41), home runs (6), RBI (29) and total bases (68).

SPENCER HOLDING ONTO LEAD FOR BATTING TITLE: Connor Spencer hit .294 in four games last week, batting 5 for 17 with two RBI and two runs scored and still sits at the top of the conference. His .378 average ranks 46th in the nation.

  • The sophomore recorded a pair of two-hit games against San Diego and in the series opener against the Titans.
  • He hit a flare to left to drive in the first run of the series to put UCI on the board. He singled and was left stranded in the eighth.
  • He was held hitless Saturday but Sunday drove in UCI's first run of the game for the second time in the series with a sacrifice fly. He then doubled and scored the go-ahead run in the sixth for the 3-2 edge.
  • Spencer is second on the team with 74 hits and shares the lead in the Big West with 17 doubles. He is sixth in slugging (.495) and dropped to second in on-base percentage at .450. He is fifth in the league with 40 runs scored.

TRIO TAKES ON DIRTBAGS: Andrew Thurman, Matt Whitehouse and Andrew Morales will have a tough task this weekend as the Anteaters face Long Beach State, which is a game ahead of UCI in the standings at 14-10.

  • Thurman suffered the loss last Friday despite no-hitting the Titans for six innings.
  • The right-hander yielded four runs, all in the seventh inning in an eventual 5-2 loss.
  • LBSU look to get to Thurman early after he pitched a complete-game no-hitter against the Dirtbags in the series opener last season.
  • Thurman is 5-4 with a 3.15 ERA and has struck out 80 in 91.1 innings. Opposing teams are hitting .236 against him and he has allowed 32 earned runs on the year while going the distance twice.

 

  • Whitehouse also gave the 'Eaters a solid start last weekend, yielding just two runs in 7.2 innings.
  • After giving up two runs in the third, the southpaw worked himself out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth and left eight runners stranded to keep UCI in the game.
  • He did not factor in the decision and is 4-6 with a 3.22 ERA. He has 79 strikeouts in 86.2 innings and has issued 18 base on balls.

 

  • Morales also rallied the Anteaters in the series, holding the Titans to a pair of runs on seven innings while striking out five.
  • Morales gave up an RBI single and a sacrifice fly in the first but then retired 13 straight before walking two in the sixth.
  • CSF managed just two hits against the junior, who took the Anteaters through seven with a 3-2 lead.
  • Morales remains undefeated at 10-0 and is ranked 11th in the country in victories.
  • He has 76 strikeouts in 87.1 innings and is limiting the opposition to a .223 average.

ABOUT THE TROJANS:  USC is 19-33 overall and 10-17 in the Pac-12.

  • Scheduled to start on the mound is lefty Sean Silva, who is 1-2 with a 4.32 ERA.
  • Leading the offense is Adam Landecker, who sports a .362 batting average and tops the team in hits (67), doubles (17) and is tied for second with 25 RBI.
  • James Roberts owns the team-high in runs batted in with 27.
  • USC leads the series 30-26 but UCI posted 3-1 win earlier this season at Dedeaux Field.

THE DIRT ON LONG BEACH STATE: Long Beach State is 28-25 overall and 14-10 in the Big West to sit in a tie for fourth with UC Santa Barbara.

  • Jeff McNeil leads the team with a .348 average and 73 hits, including 15 doubles.
  • Ino Patron, who is hitting .299, owns the team-best mark in RBI with 30.
  • Big West Pitcher of the Week, Shane Carle, will open the series Thursday. He is 4-8 with a 2.91 earned run average after throwing a complete-game shutout against UC Riverside last week.
  • Carle struck out 10 and tops the team with 75 strikeouts in 92.2 innings. Teams are hitting .242 against the righty.
  • It will be a battle of the southpaws Saturday as Jake Stassi takes the mound against Matt Whitehouse.
  • Stassi is 4-3 with a 2.75 ERA and has 37 strikeouts in 75. 1innings. He has walked just 20 batters and allowed 23 earned runs. Stassi held UCR to one run in 4.1 innings while scattering five hits.
  • Right-hander David Hill is expected to close out the series Saturday. Hill yielded just two runs (one earned) on seven hits in six innings but did not figure in the 5-4, 10-inning decision.
  • Hill has 28 strikeouts in 62.2 innings and has issued 30 free passes in 16 appearances.
  • UCI holds a 61-49-1 advantage in the series against LBSU but the Dirtbags captured two of three games against the Anteaters last year.

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