UC Irvine Travels to CSU Bakersfield, Hosts UC Riverside In Big West Opener

Bakersfield, Calif. / Cicerone Field at Anteater Ballpark

Mar. 25
Game 24  - 6:00 PM
at CSU Bakersfield
(L) Evan Manarino vs. (R) Steven Gee
Live stats
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Mar. 28
Game 25 - 6:30 PM
vs. UC Riverside
(R) Andrew Morales vs. (R) Jacob Smigelski
Live stats
KUCI 88.9 FM (Mark Roberts)
Tickets 

Mar. 29
Game 26 –1:00 PM
vs. UC Riverside
(L) Elliot Surrey vs. (R) Zach Varela
Live stats
KUCI 88.9 FM (Mark Roberts)
Tickets

Mar. 30
Game 27 - 1:00 PM
vs. UC Riverside
(R) Evan Brock vs. (L) Ben Doucette
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Internet Only (Mark Roberts)
Tickets 

QUICK HITS

  • UC Irvine logged back-to-back shutouts to win the series against Grand Canyon. The last time the 'Eaters posted consecutive shutouts was in 2012 against UC Santa Barbara.
  • Leading UCI to their consecutive shutout effort were Andrew Morales and Elliot Surrey, who both went the distance for the first time in their careers.
  • Connor Spencer, who tops the starters with a .325 average, has reached safely in 21 games.
  • The Anteaters will look to snap an 18-inning scoreless streak on Tuesdays after being shutout by UCLA and Pepperdine.

MANARINO TO START AGAINST ROADRUNNERS

  • Evan Manarino is scheduled to make the start Tuesday against CSU Bakersfield.
  • The lefty is 1-2 with a 3.96 ERA and has struck out 20 batters in 25 innings while giving up just one walk in seven appearances.
  • Manarino held the Waves to one run in four innings in the start last week but was tagged for three runs in the fifth and two in the sixth.
  • His best outing was against the Roadrunners earlier this year in which he gave the 'Eaters a six-inning effort and allowed just two runs (one earned) on six hits while striking out nine.

McCLANAHAN, DUARTE, SPENCER CARRY OFFENSE

  • Jerry McClanahan, Mikey Duarte and Connor Spencer were the team's top producers at the plate last week.
  • McClanahan, starting in all four games, batted .385 and led UCI with five hits, including a double and posted three RBI.
  • He drove in the game-winning run in the first in UCI's 2-0 win over Grand Canyon Friday and then added an insurance run in the team's win Saturday.
  • McClanahan is hitting .269 with 21 hits and 10 RBI.
  • Duarte hit .375 (3 for 8) and currently has recorded a hit in five straight games.
  • Duarte sports a .316 average and has driven in three runs on 12 hits.
  • Spencer was 4 for 14 (.286) with an RBI and two runs scored.
  • The first baseman had a 12-game hitting streak snapped Saturday against GCU but rebounded with two hits Sunday and drove in the team's lone run.
  • Spencer is second on the team with 27 hits and 15 runs batted in.

MUNOZ MAKES IT COUNT

  • Jonathan Munoz made his second start Sunday and had his first multiple-hit game, going 2 for 4 as the designated hitter.
  • Brought off the bench primarily as a pinch-hitter, 10 of Munoz's 17 at-bats have come with two outs and he has delivered, going 4 for 10 (.400) in two-out situations.

MORALES, SURREY WIN IT FOR UCI ON THE MOUND

  • After posting their shortest starts of the year against Nebraska, Andrew Morales and Elliot Surrey rebounded by pitching back-to-back complete-game shutouts against Grand Canyon.
  • Morales, who will open the series against UC Riverside Friday, boasted a no-hitter through five and went on to fan 11 batters, walk one and yield two hits while holding the Antelopes to a .071 hitting percentage.
  • The right-hander is 4-0 and leads the Big West in ERA at 0.62 and opposing batting average (.149).
  • Surrey, slated to start Saturday, struck out six, did not walk a batter and scattered four hits to seal the series win.
  • The Antelopes managed just a .138 batting average against Surrey, who improved to 2-2 and lowered his ERA to 3.09.

DAVIS' SCORELESS STREAK ENDS

  • Kyle Davis, one of the anchors of the Anteater bullpen, saw his scoreless inning streak end at 14.2 frames.
  • The right-hander is undefeated at 2-0 and boasts a 1.20 ERA.
  • Picking up for Matt Fielding Sunday, Davis walked two and surrendered two earned runs on two hits.

WINESTEIN MAKES DIVISION I DEBUT

  • Freshman Max Winestein made his collegiate debut last week, coming out of the bullpen in two games.
  • The right-hander pitched a hitless inning against Pepperdine and then retired one batter in the seventh against GCU Sunday. 

BROCK SUFFERS FIRST LOSS

  • Evan Brock, who will close the series Sunday, was handed his first loss of the season after posting his shortest stint of the season.
  • The right-hander gave up five runs on eight hits in three innings of work.
  • Brock is 4-1 with a 3.53 ERA and has registered 23 strikeouts in 35.2 innings.

ABOUT THE ROADRUNNERS

  • Bakersfield  is 10-12 on the year and went 3-1 last week with wins over Cal State Northridge and North Dakota.
  • The team is led by Max Carter, who is batting .417 and Chance Gusbeth is the team's top RBI and hit man with 16 and 25, respectively.
  • Slated to start Tuesday is Steven Gee, who is 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA.
  • The right-hander is making his second start and has struck out five in 9.1 innings. He is holding opposing teams to a .194 batting average and has walked three while allowing two earned runs.
  • UCI edged Bakersfield 3-2 earlier this year to improve to 10-2 in the series records.

ABOUT THE HIGHLANDERS

  • UC Riverside is 11-9 on the year after posting a 3-1 week with wins over Gonzaga and Stony Brook.
  • The Highlanders are led by Francisco Tellez, who is fourth in the Big West with a .424 average, second in hits with 26, second in RBI with 25 and first in doubles with 10.
  • The Highlanders own the second-best batting average in the Big West at .299
  • Scheduled to start the series Friday is right-hander Jacob Smigelski, who is 3-2 with a 1.26 ERA.
  • Smigelski has struck out 28 in 35.2 innings and allowed just five earned runs while holding teams to a .188 average.
  • Right-hander Zach Varela will be given the ball Saturday and will bring an undefeated, 3-0 mark to Anteater Ballpark.
  • Varela holds a 2.75 earned run average and has struck out 14 in 35 innings while walking seven and allowing 11 earned runs.
  • Lefty Ben Doucette will close the series Sunday. Doucette is 1-2 with a 4.79 ERA and has 14 strikeouts in 20.2 innings of work.
  • The Highlander pitching staff has allowed just 65 base on balls while the offense has drawn 102.
  • UCI leads 40-22 in the all-time series but was swept by UC Riverside last year.

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