UC Irvine Hosts SDSU Before Trip to Washington

Tuesday, February 25

Irvine, CA

6:00 PM

UC Irvine

San Diego State

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UC Irvine Hosts SDSU Before Trip to Washington

February 24, 2020 | Baseball

By: Alex Croteau

THIS WEEK IN ANTEATER BASEBALL

Game Notes

San Diego State Aztecs (5-2)
vs. UC Irvine Anteaters (4-3)
Cicerone Field at Anteater Ballpark (3,408) - Irvine, Calif.

Tuesday, February 25 - 6:00 PM
LHP Nick Pinto (0-1, 13.50) vs. RHP Avery Jones (0-0, 0.00)
Live Stats | kuci.org | Buy Tickets | Game Program

UC Irvine Anteaters (4-4)
at Washington Huskies (5-2)
Husky Ballpark (2,400) - Seattle, Wash.

Friday, February 28 - 6:05 PM
RHP Trenton Denholm (1-1, 2.13) vs. RHP Stevie Emanuels (1-1, 0.93)
Watch Online | Live Stats | kuci.org

Saturday, February 29 - 2:05 PM
RHP Peter Van Loon (0-0, 4.76) vs. RHP Jack Enger (1-0, 1.50)
Watch Online | Live Stats | kuci.org

Sunday, March 1 - 1:05 PM
RHP Cole van den Helder (1-0, 2.79) vs. TBA
Watch Online | Live Stats | KUCI 88.9 FM

Broadcast Information

Radio
KUCI 88.9 FM with Mark Roberts
All games also available live on the internet at kuci.org and ucirvinesports.com

Online Stream
All three weekend games at Washington will be streamed live online through the Pac-12
Network. Links can be found at ucirvinesports.com

Around The Horn

7 - Dating back to 2019, the 'Eaters have defended Anteater Ballpark winning the last 7 home games over UC Davis, USC, and Rice. UCI also has a 5-game win streak in February home games after going 2-1 in February of 2019 added to the three wins over Rice

0 - The Anteaters have always been sound on defense, but it has been notable thus far in 2020 that the 'Eaters have yet to turn a double play. They are among nine schools through the first two weekends and 1 of 4 schools to play at least 7 games with 0 double plays

7-3 - The 'Eaters finished with a 7-3 record against the Pac-12 a year ago including going 5-1 against Washington schools and 2 of 3 from UW pushing their record to 13-12 all-time vs. the Huskies. Since the program's return in 2002, UCI has an 87-72 record against the Pac-12 Conference

The Anteaters got back over .500 by sweeping Rice at home after starting the week with a midweek loss at San Diego. Both sides fared well once it got to the weekend with the offense scoring 21 runs in the three games and the pitching allowing just six on top of 17 total hits.

Jake Palmer continues to pace the offense at the top reaching base 11 times in 18 plate appearances. His .462 batting average and .559 on-base percentage both lead the Big West, and he leads the team he those categories as well as runs scored, hits, doubles, walks, and RBI.

Also finding their strokes were Mike Peabody with four hits including his first HR at home. Adrian Damla match him with a four-hit, four-RBI weekend. Breakout performances were added by Taishi Nakawake with three hits and three RBI, Connor McGuire had three hits and scored three times, and Griffin Mazur bumped his on-base streak to 11 games as he's chasing Palmer's 15-game run and Peabody's string of 21 games

Pitching performances abound motivated by Friday night's performance of Trenton Denholm who left after seven no-hit innings to drop his numbers on the year to a 2.13 ERA and 0.47 WHIP. Cole van den Helder busted out for a seven-inning outing of his own taking his first win as an Anteater allowing just five hits and no runs. He has yet to issue a walk in his first two starts, and he struck out eight Owls on Sunday for the highest total so far in the young season by an 'Eater. Saturday starter Peter Van Loon did enough to help with the win. Despite allowing a run in 4.1 innings with four walks, he matched his first start in terms of strikeouts with seven and also left without allowing a hit to the Owls.

The bullpen held strong for the most part led by Josh Ibarra and John Vergara shutting down Rice on Saturday night. Ibarra snagged his first career win in 2.2 shutout innings where he did not walk anyone and struck out four. Vergara bounced back from a blown save in his last appearance for two shutout innings to earn his second save of the season helped by four strikeouts. The team struck out 15 in Saturday's win marking just the 13th occurrence of 15+ strikeouts in UCI history. Getting in some work were Dylan Riddle, Jacob King, and Gordon Ingebritson who did not allow an earned run between them in 3.2 innings

More new faces graced the diamond starting with Josh Sheck who walked twice as a pinch-hitter Tuesday night. He was thrust into the starting lineup as the DH Sunday and delivered his first career hit and run. Luke Spillane made his collegiate debut on Sunday as well getting his first career hit while also being hit by a pitch twice as the right fielder

SAN DIEGO STATE AZTECS
San Diego State has had a productive beginning to 2020 and are considered a top West Coast program to date sitting at 5-2 after a long, arduous trip to South Carolina and a whirlwind home weekend hosting the Tony Gwynn Legacy that produces wins over Virginia Tech, Coastal Carolina, Cal State Fullerton, Iowa, and Nebraska.

The Aztecs march along under Mark Martinez in his 6th year with a 180-130 record. SDSU was 32-25 a year ago, but crashed out of the Mountain West Tournament quickly missing the NCAA Tournament. SDSU and UCI split the 2019 season series with each squad winning their home game

The offense fires behind top hitters Ryan Orr (.414, 5 RBI) and Matt Rudick (.333, HR, 5 RBI) averaging five runs a game.

The staff has some great numbers with closer Casey Schmitt (5.2 IP, 0 BB, 5 K) leading the way along with two weekend starters with sub-2.00 ERAs

The difference is the defense that has coughed up 17 errors already this season leading to 18 unearned runs. Just on Sunday alone, their four errors vs. USC accounted for 10 of the 11 runs they allowed.

WASHINGTON HUSKIES
Washington is flying after dropping their first two games out of the gate to LMU. They've now won five straight taking the finale over LMU and then wins at Long Beach State and Fresno State ready to start their home slate with the Anteaters.

The Huskies opened 2019 at UC Irvine dropping 2 of 3 in a rain-soaked weekend. A big 8-run, error-laden inning dropped the 'Eaters in the opener, 9-5, but UCI would bounce back on timely hitting to take the second game, 2-1, and had a comeback of their own with a 5-run 7th to win the finale, 6-4.

The 2019 season would end 28-24 and near the bottom of the Pac-12 for the Huskies. Head coach Lindsey Meggs is back for his 11th year as the 'Eaters return to UW for the fourth time in their history, first since 2009, where they sport a 4-6 record
Offensively, the Huskies have managed hitting .238 scoring nearly five runs a game. Christian Jones (.353, HR, 5 RBI) has been the catalyst along with 5 RBI so far from Ramon Bramasco and Tommy Williams

Pitching has shone the way so far with a 2.66 ERA. Stevie Emanuels has stood tall with an 0.93 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 9.2 innings. Jack Enger has made a difference with a pair of 6-inning outings to lead the staff, and Davis Delorefice has three saves in the five wins as part of a staff that has allowed .178 average to opponents