No. 21 UC Irvine Travels to Loyola Marymount, Hosts San Diego State

Los Angeles, CA / Cicerone Field at Anteater Ballpark

Apr. 15
Game 36 - 6:00 PM
at LMU
(R) Mitch Merten vs. (L) Brenton Arriaga
Live stats
Internet Only
Mark Roberts

Apr. 17
Game 37 - 6:30 PM
vs. CS Northridge
(R) Andrew Morales vs. (L) Mike Robarbs
Live stats
KUCI 88.9 FM
Tickets
Mark Roberts
Tim Becwar

Apr. 18
Game 38 –1:00 PM
vs. CS Northridge
(L) Elliot Surrey vs. (R) Bubba Derby
Live stats
KUCI 88.9 FM
Tickets
Mark Roberts
Tim Becwar

Apr. 19
Game 39 - 1:00 PM
vs. CS Northridge
(R) Evan Brock vs. (R) Mark Seyler
Live stats
Internet Only
Tickets
Mark Roberts
Tim Becwar

 

QUICK HITS

  • UC Irvine jumped into the national rankings this week at No. 21 in Collegiate Baseball's poll, marking the second week this season the Anteaters have been ranked by a national publication.
  • The pitching staff dots the national rankings in multiple categories. The 'Eater arms are third in the nation in walks allowed per nine innings at 2.01, fourth in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.49) and 19th in ERA at 2.55
  • The UCI offense is seventh in the country in triples with 16 after Taylor Sparks and Connor Spencer combined for four in four games last week. The team is six triples behind national leader, Louisiana-Lafayette (22).
  • Taylor Sparks, who leads the team with six triples, is fourth in the country. The current national leader is Emmanuel Marrero of Alabama State, with eight.
  • The Anteaters are fourth in the Big West with a .281 batting average and have allowed the fewest steals this year with 11.

MERTEN MAKES SECOND START

  • Right-hander Mitch Merten will make the start Tuesday against the Lions.
  • Merten pitched 2.1 innings last week against San Diego, striking out four and yielding two runs (one earned) on three hits but suffered the loss after UCI was unable to make up the deficit. 
  • Merten has fanned seven in 10.1 innings and walked five while giving up eight earned runs on 12 hits.

IT'S NOT JUST HOW YOU START…

  • All eyes will be on the pitching match-ups this weekend as UCI's starting rotation has combined for 18 wins and San Diego State's starting threesome has amassed 14 .
  • However, the late innings will also be something to watch as the weekend will feature two of the top closers in the country.
  • UCI's Sam Moore is the national leader in saves with 15 while Aztec closer Michael Cederoth is tied for second with 12 saves.
  • Moore, who picked up two saves against Cal State Northridge is 0-1 with a 1.17 ERA and has fanned 28 in 30.2 innings of work. The right-hander has walked just five and surrendered four earned runs and is holding opposing teams to a .160 average. 
  • Cederoth has equally impressive numbers and is 3-1 on the year with a 2.51 earned run average. The junior right-hander has struck out 32 in 28.2 innings and walked 18 while giving up just eight earned runs and is holding the opposition to a .170 average.

MCCLANAHAN PACES 'EATERS

  • Jerry McClanahan hit .467, batting 7 for 15 with five RBI and two runs scored to lead UCI to a 3-1 week.
  • The catcher drove in the game-winning runs Friday night against CSUN with a two-run single and was responsible for the insurance run Saturday with a single in the seventh to give UCI its fifth run.
  • He ended the series by batting 2 for 3 with an RBI Sunday and he is now batting .306 with 37 hits and 22 RBI.

JUNIORS LEADING THE WAY

  • Offensively, the veterans are pacing the 'Eater offense with juniors Connor Spencer, Taylor Sparks, McClanahan, Kris Paulino and Chris Rabago all posting double-digit runs batted in.
  • The balanced scoring starts with Spencer, who tops the team and is tied for sixth in the Big West with 27.  Spencer is also second in the league with 48 hits, four behind conference leader, Joey Epperson (UCSB), who has 52.
  • Sparks is second on the team with 25 RBI, McClanahan has 22 while Paulino and Rabago round out the list with 18 and 10, respectively.
  • Nearing double-figures is Grant Palmer, who has seven RBI and is third on the team with 18 runs scored.

MOORE SAVES TWO, IS TWO AWAY FROM TYING UCI RECORD

  • Sam Moore locked down two saves last week against Cal State Northridge and now owns 15 on the year.
  • The right-hander is two away from tying the UCI single-season mark.
  • Moore entered in the ninth Friday with the bases loaded and induced a sac fly for the first out before yielding a single. He then induced a pair of grounders to end the inning.
  • Moore was called from the bullpen again Saturday and allowed a two-run double before bearing down and retiring the final two batters of the inning. Moore then had to deal with an Anteater error but left two Matadors stranded in the ninth to earn the save.
  • Moore owns a 1.17 ERA and has 28 strikeouts in 30.2 innings. He has allowed just four earned runs and is holding teams to a .160 average.

FIELDING CONTINUE TO IMPRESS

  • Matt Fielding continues to be a dependable arm out of the bullpen for the Anteaters.
  • The lefty made two appearances and pitched three innings of one-hit baseball while striking out two.
  • Fielding has made 13 appearances this year, third-most on the team and has allowed jut three earned runs in 15 innings while fanning seven.
  • Teams are hitting just .192 against him and he holds a 1.80 ERA.

BROCK BACK ON TRACK

  • Evan Brock, who opened the season with five consecutive quality starts, stumbled slightly against Hawaii, giving up four runs in 5.2 innings.
  • However, the senior bounced back with seven strong frames against CSUN and held the Matadors to two runs to improve to 6-2.
  • With the six wins, Brock is tied for fourth in the Big West in victories and shares the spot with Cal Poly's Justin Calemeni.

MORALES WINS LUCKY SEVEN

  • Andrew Morales logged another stellar start under the Friday night lights to improve to 7-0 on the year.
  • The right-hander had his scoreless inning streak snapped at 31.2 innings as he allowed two runs on five hits but went on to strike out nine and scatter five hits in the win. 
  • Morales, who did not walk a batter in the outing, has 69 strikeouts in 67 innings and holds a 0.67 ERA.

ABOUT LMU

  • Loyola Marymount is 22-14 and boasts a 16-9 record at home.
  • The Lions are led by Austin Miller, who is batting .379 with 50 hits while Tommy Cheek leads the team with 35 RBI
  • The team is batting .296 while the pitching staff takes a 3.85 ERA into action this week.
  • Scheduled to start on the mound is lefty Brenton Arriaga, who is 2-2 with a 4.56 ERA.
  • UCI edged past LMU earlier this year with a 3-2, 11th-inning decision to improve to 42-33-3. Evan Cassolato provided the heroics with the walk-off hit.

ABOUT SAN DIEGO STATE

  • San Diego State also owns an impressive record at 25-11, which includes a win over then-No. 24 San Diego.
  • The Aztecs are hitting .292 as a team with Ty France topping the team with a .394 average, 52 hits and 32 RBI.
  • The Aztec lineup features eight batters with double-figures in RBI. The team also boasts speed on the base-paths with Greg Allen posting 20 steals in 23 attempts. SDSU has 52 steals while opposing teams have managed just 15.
  • Mike RoBards will take the mound against Andrew Morales Thursday and is 3-3 with a 4.99 ERA. He has 33 strikeouts in 48.2 innings and allowed 27 earned runs on the year.
  • Bubba Derby is scheduled to oppose Elliot Surrey Friday and is 5-1 with a 2.40 ERA. Derby has 55 strikeouts in 56.1 innings and has allowed 15 earned runs on 47 hits.
  • Mark Seyler is slated to make the start against Brock Saturday and is 5-3 with a 3.38 ERA.
  • UCI trails in the series against SDSU at 32-48-1.

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