UC Irvine Hosts USC; Gonzaga Series Opens Saturday, Concludes Monday

Cicerone Field at Anteater Ballpark / Los Angeles, Calif.

Mar. 4 (Tues.)
Game 12 -  6:30 PM
vs. USC
(L) Evan Manarino vs. (R) Brent Wheatley
Live stats
Internet Only
Tickets

Mar. 8 (Sat.)
Game 13 -  1:00 PM
vs. Gonzaga
TBD vs. TBD
Live stats
Internet Only
Tickets

Mar. 9 (Sun.)
Game 14 -  1:00 PM
vs. Gonzaga
TBD vs. TBD
Live stats
KUCI 88.9 FM
Tickets

Mar. 10 (Mon.)
Game 15  - 6:30 PM
vs. Gonzaga
TBD vs. TBD
Live stats
KUCI 88.9 FM
Tickets

Mar. 11 (Tues.)
Game 16  - 6:00 PM
at No. 13 UCLA
TBD vs. TBD
Live stats
Internet Only

 

QUICK HITS

  • UC Irvine takes on a hectic schedule over the next week beginning with a midweek game against USC Tuesday (Mar. 4).
  • The Anteaters then take on Gonzaga in a three-game series that begins Saturday (Mar. 8) at 1:00 p.m., not Friday, with the following two games scheduled for Sunday (Mar. 9) at 1 and Monday, (Mar. 10) at 6:30 p.m.
  • The baseball team continues the stretch with a trip to 13th-ranked UCLA next Tuesday (Mar. 10) at 6:00 p.m.
  • UC Irvine has won the last six consecutive games and eight of the last nine after opening the season at 0-2.
  • Through 11 games, UCI's pitching staff has posted a 1.36 ERA to lead the conference and has struck out 91 to sit third in the league.

MANARINO TAKES TUESDAY SLOT

  • Lefty Evan Manarino will be given the ball again and will start Tuesday for the 'Eaters.
  • Manarino, who has not allowed a walk in three appearances, is tied for first in the country in walks allowed per nine innings.
  • The junior started last week against LMU and held the Lions to two unearned runs on nine hits in 4.1 innings but did not figure in the decision.
  • Manarino is 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA and has struck out 14 in 13.1 innings of work.

SAM GIVES ANTEATERS MOORE

  • Sam Moore made three appearances last week and picked up two saves to help UCI to a 4-0 week and currently leads the nation in saves with five.
  • The junior struck out eight in 5.1 innings and leads the conference in appearances (7) and saves (5).
  • Moore pitched 2.2 flawless innings against the Lions in UCI's extra-inning win and struck out five in no-hit relief.
  • He then earned a save Friday in the second game of the doubleheader with 2.1 innings and secured the final out Saturday for his fifth save.
  • Moore has not yielded a run in the last six appearances and has not allowed a hit in the last three.

BROCK MAKES IT THREE OF A KIND

  • Evan Brock improved to 3-0  and is fourth in the country in victories after pitching 6.1 innings in the series finale against Portland.
  • The right-hander struck out two and walked one. He held the Pilots to one run through six innings before surrendering two in the seventh.
  • The outing was the longest for Brock since he twirled an one-run, eight-inning game his freshman season in 2010.

 PAULINO BELTS FIRST TWO COLLEGIATE HOME RUNS

  • Kris Paulino figured prominently in the team's 4-0 week, batting .353 with six hits and four runs batted in.
  • The outfielder hit his first two home runs of his collegiate career in the second game against Portland.
  • The first home run put the Anteaters on the board in the first and his second, which came in the fifth, tied the game at 2-2.
  • Paulino also plated the game-winning run against LMU to kick off the week. After being held without a hit, the junior hit a one-out single in the bottom of the 11th and came around to score on Evan Cassolato's game-winning hit.
  • Paulino is tied for third on the team with 11 hits and tops the team with eight runs batted in.

 MORALES SHARES NATIONAL LEAD

  • Andrew Morales has pitched 22 innings without yielding an earned run and is tied with 48 players for the best ERA in the country at 0.00. 
  • Adding a 10-0 mark to a 21-1 record in two seasons at Rio Hondo, Morales now is a lofty 33-1 on the mound in his college career.
  • Last week, Morales tossed eight innings, striking out five and walking one while allowing an unearned run.

 CASSOLATO HITS GAME WINNER, DUARTE TIES PERSONAL BEST

  • Evan Cassolato came off the bench against LMU in the fourth inning and delivered for the 'Eaters with a walk and two hits, including the game-winner in the 11th.
  • The redshirt freshman also started in two games against Portland and added a pair of hits Friday and a run batted in Friday before capping the series with a hit and a walk Saturday.
  • Cassolato has been solid in centerfield and after batting .500 last week (5 for 10), is second on the team with a .350 average.
  • Duarte put up identical numbers with five hits and a .500 clip last week.
  • The second baseman posted two hits Friday in game one and came back Saturday with three hits to match a personal best. Duarte had three hits against Baylor in his freshman year.
  • Duarte upped his average to .316 and is tied for first with two doubles.

LITCHFIELD LOGS FIRST WIN

  • Jimmy Litchfield earned his first win after finishing up for Sam Moore against LMU by taking care of the final batter of the game. 
  • The lefty then was called out of the bullpen Saturday and pitched 2.1 innings while striking out two and walking one.
  • With the two appearances, Litchfield took over the No. 4 spot in the UCI career records with 95 appearances and is two from tying Bo Ken, who made 97 appearances from 1983-86.

DAVIS DOMINATES IN FIRST COLLEGIATE APPEARANCE

  • Kyle Davis made his first appearance for the 'Eaters against LMU and stymied the  Lions, striking out six in three innings.
  • The redshirt sophomore then faced the Pilots Friday with the game tied at 2-2, held Portland to a lone hit in 1.1 innings and earned the first victory of his career.

TROJANS OFF TO HOT START

  • USC brings an 8-2 record to Anteater Ballpark Tuesday and is batting .295 as a team.
  • The Trojans hold a 61-24 run advantage over their opponents and has posted wins over Cal State Fullerton and Cal Poly.
  • Jake Hernandez is batting .469 while Kevin Swick paces the team with 16 hits.
  • Right-hander Brent Wheatley is slated to start on the bump. Wheatley made the start against the Titans  in a midweek game last week and pitched four innings while striking out two, walking three and giving up one run.
  • Wheatley owns a 3.12 ERA and has made three appearances and makes his second start Tuesday.
  • UCI trails the Trojans in the series 31-26. The two teams split the home-and-home series last year.

'ZAGS START CALIFORNIA SWING IN IRVINE

  • Gonzaga, 3-8 on the year, looks to soak up sunshine in the Golden State and will spend over two weeks in California.
  • The Bulldogs open their California road-trip with a three-game series at UCI and then plays single games against UC Riverside, Bakersfield before taking on San Francisco and Pacific in two three-game series.
  • Gonzaga has played three ranked teams, falling to No. 2 Oregon State, No. 18 Oklahoma State and No. 29 Arizona State.
  • Gonzaga is led by Mitch Gunsolus, who is batting .423 with a team-leading 16 hits.
  • Cory LeBrun tops the team with eight runs batted in.
  • UCI holds a 10-5 series lead over the Bulldogs but looks to rebound from three consecutive losses at Gonzaga in 2011.

__________________________________________________________

For UC Irvine Athletics ticket information, please call (949) 824-5000 or e-mail athletics.tickets@uci.edu. For more information click here.

For information on how you can help support UC Irvine Athletics, please call (949) 824-6933 or e-mail aaf@uci.edu. For additional information, click here.

You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Print Friendly Version