UC-Irvine Archive

CBD Visit: Irvine Blows Late Lead, Potentially At-Large Bid

– May 21, 2013Posted in: 2013 Season Coverage, Big West, CBD Interview, CBD Visit, Interviews with Coaches, Interviews with Players

FULLERTON, Calif. — Though it is now a distant memory, Carlos Lopez was originally set to be an Irvine Anteater. When he was a sophomore in high school, Lopez committed to play for Dave Serrano at Irvine. But when Serrano took the Cal State Fullerton job, Lopez followed his head coach across town to Fullerton.

Fast forward a few years, several if you ask anyone how long it seems Lopez has been wearing a Titans uniform, and you get Lopez’s penultimate weekend of baseball against the team he once planned to play for.

On Sunday afternoon, Lopez capped a weekend of baseball Fullerton coach Rick Vanderhook said was “absolutely unheard of,” by crushing a three-run walk-off home run to give Fullerton (45-8, 20-4) a 7-5 victory and a three-game sweep of UC Irvine (31-20, 13-11).

The final play: Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Big West, Cal State Fullerton, CBD Interview, CBD Visit, Interviews with Coaches, Interviews with Players, UC-Irvine

CBD Photo Gallery: Carlos Lopez Hits Walk-Off Homer Again

Shotgun Spratling

– May 20, 2013Posted in: 2013 Season Coverage, Big West, CBD Photo Gallery

FULLERTON, Calif. — Cal State Fullerton fifth-year senior Carlos Lopez really didn’t want to ground into a double play in his final regular season at bat at Goodwin Field.

With the tying run on second and a man on first with one out in the bottom of the ninth, Lopez wanted to try to drive a pitch. If he didn’t get a hit, he wanted to give the next man a chance. But most importantly, he didn’t want to end the game with a double play.

Lopez did end the game, but instead of hitting into a double play, he did the improbable — walloping a 1-1 changeup from Evan Brock high over the right field fence for his second walk-off home run in as many days.

Lopez’s dramatic blast gave Fullerton (45-8, 20-4) a 7-5 victory and a series sweep of Big West rival UC Irvine (31-20, 13-11). The win combined with Cal Poly’s sweep of Cal State Northridge gave the Titans their fourth consecutive Big West title and 27th conference championship in 39 years. It also earned Fullerton the conference’s automatic bid for the NCAA Tournament. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Big West, Cal State Fullerton, CBD Photo Gallery, UC-Irvine

Fullerton’s Lopez Homers to Defeat UC-Irvine 3-2

Brian Foley

– May 19, 2013Posted in: Big West

By: Olivia G. Phelps

FULLERTON, CA: On Saturday night at Goodwin Field in Fullerton, California, the No. 4 Cal State Fullerton Titans (44-8, 19-4) defeated the No. 24 ranked UC Irvine Anteaters (31-19, 13-10) in a 3-2 finish. After the Titans maintained a 2-0 lead through the eighth, Irvine managed to plate two runs in the ninth, before senior Carlos Lopez hit a walk-off home run to clinch the series after Friday night’s 5-2 victory. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Big West, Cal State Fullerton, UC-Irvine

SoCal Weekend Wrap: Conference Battles

Shotgun Spratling

– May 14, 2013Posted in: 2013 Season Coverage, Big West, CBD Column, Mountain West, Pac 12, West Coast Conference

Taylor Sparks led Irvine to a big series win.

There were some matchups with big postseason potential implications this weekend as 10 of the 11 SoCal squads took to the diamond. The Big West featured some crucial matchups with four teams chasing after Cal State Fullerton.

This week’s action featured seven pitchers throwing complete games, yet the Pitcher of the Week did not. San Diego’s Kris Bryant hit five round trippers last week. He hit his nation’s best 26th, 27th and 28th homers over the weekend, but he didn’t earn the Hitter of the Week honor this week. Instead, he was bested by a teammate.

We provided you with live updates on Twitter (@SoCal_CBDaily) throughout the weekend, but here’s a recap of all the weekend action:

Read the rest of this entry »

CBD Photo Gallery: Poteet Pitches Bruins Past Irvine, 8-1

Shotgun Spratling

– May 1, 2013Posted in: 2013 Season Coverage, Big West, CBD Photo Gallery, Pac 12

LOS ANGELES — Freshman Cody Poteet pitched a career-high six innings and had a career-high five strikeouts as UCLA took an 8-1 win against UC Irvine Tuesday night at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

Kevin Kramer delivered the big blow in a five-run seventh inning that put the game out of reach. After the first three batters singled and Brian Carroll took a bases-loaded walk to bring home a run, Irvine (28-13) went to Sam Moore, its fifth of six pitchers. Kramer greeted the freshman by smacking his second offering toward left-centerfield.
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Tags: Big West, CBD Photo Gallery, Pac 12, UC-Irvine, UCLA

SoCal Weekend Wrap: Finish Strong

Shotgun Spratling

– April 29, 2013Posted in: 2013 Season Coverage, Big West, CBD Column, Mountain West, Pac 12, West Coast Conference

UC Irvine had two walk-off wins.

With conference positioning and potential at-large berths on the line, 10 of the 11 SoCal squads took to the diamond this weekend. (Pepperdine had the week off due to finals and graduation.) There were two big series with teams battling in their respective conference standings, but also playing their way toward the NCAA Tournament bubble.

This week’s action featured a midweek no-hitter and a batter driving in three runs in three consecutive games. San Diego’s Kris Bryant also went deep for his nation’s best 21st and 22nd homers, but he didn’t earn the Hitter of the Week honor this week. Instead, it comes from the Toreros’ crosstown rival.

We provided you with live updates on Twitter (@SoCal_CBDaily) throughout the weekend, but here’s a recap of all the weekend action:

Read the rest of this entry »

CBD Visit: Cooper’s Squeeze Gives ‘Eaters 5-4 Walk-Off

Shotgun Spratling

– April 27, 2013Posted in: 2013 Season Coverage, Big West, CBD Interview, CBD Visit, Interviews with Coaches, Interviews with Players

IRVINE, Calif. — Ryan Cooper may not have a hit since March 8, but that doesn’t mean the UC Irvine coaching staff doesn’t have faith in him. Cooper pinch hit with runners on the corners with one out in the ninth inning and laid down a perfect safety squeeze.

UC Davis catcher Izaak Silva did all he could to block the plate, but Justin Castro got his foot between Silva’s legs and toe-tapped the plate to give Irvine (26-12, 8-5) a 5-4 walk-off win Friday night at Anteater Ballpark.

The Aggies (15-24, 3-10) and Anteaters traded the lead back and forth before Taylor Sparks tied the game in the sixth inning with a home run over the left field fence. Neither team scored in the seventh or eighth innings, setting up the dramatic walk-off squeeze.

Mitch Merten picked up the win in relief for Irvine. Anteaters ace Andrew Thurman looked brilliant at times and easy to hit at times. Neither he nor UC Davis starter Harry Stanwyck factored in the decision after both allowed four runs in 7 2/3 innings pitched. Only three of Thurman’s runs were earned, but he allowed 11 hits.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Big West, CBD Interview, CBD Visit, Interviews with Coaches, Interviews with Players, Mike Gillespie, Taylor Sparks, UC-Davis, UC-Irvine

CBD Photo Gallery: Irvine Squeezes Out 5-4 Win Over Davis

Shotgun Spratling

– April 27, 2013Posted in: 2013 Season Coverage, Big West, CBD Photo Gallery

IRVINE, Calif. — UC Davis closer Max Cordy had already unleashed a wild pitch while attempting to intentionally walk a batter, so UC Irvine couldn’t risk trying a suicide squeeze in the bottom of the ninth inning. Instead, with runners on the corners, pinch hitter Ryan Cooper was called on to put down a safety squeeze.

But Cooper laid down a great bunt and pinch runner Justin Castro got a great read. Castro sprinted down the line and slid into UC Davis catcher Izaak Silva, who blocked the plate expertly. However, Castro was able to slip his foot through the five-hole and tapped the corner of home plate with his tippy toe to give Irvine a 5-4 walk-off win Friday night at Anteater Ballpark.

Castro ran for Jerry McClanahan at first base after McClanahan drew a leadoff walk. Castro moved to second on a Scott Gottschling sacrifice bunt and advanced to third on Cordy’s intentional walk throw that went over the head of Silva and all the way to the backstop. After Kris Paulino’s intentional pass was completed, Cooper was sent to the plate to pinch hit despite not having a hit since March 8 (0-for-24).

Cooper still doesn’t have a hit, but he does have a walk-off game-winner to his credit. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Big West, CBD Photo Gallery, UC-Davis, UC-Irvine

SoCal Weekend Wrap: Road Warriors

Shotgun Spratling

– April 22, 2013Posted in: 2013 Season Coverage, Big West, CBD Column, Mountain West, Pac 12, West Coast Conference

San Diego State's effort came up just short.

San Diego State’s effort came up short at UNLV.

The SoCal show took to the road with all but one of the 11 Southern California squads playing on the road this weekend. There were some great matchups as three premier conference battles featured top 25 squads and another four series came down to a decisive Sunday showdown.

But for two SoCal squads, the door to the postseason may have slammed shut behind them as they were ushered out by the mighty sweep broom.

We provided you with live updates on Twitter (@SoCal_CBDaily) throughout the weekend, but here’s a recap of all the weekend action:

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CBD Photo Gallery: Irvine Wins Wild Affair With Walk-Off in 11th

Shotgun Spratling

– April 13, 2013Posted in: 2013 Season Coverage, Big West, CBD Photo Gallery

Photos Courtesy of David Cohen.

With a pair of teams entering on five-game winning streaks and a pair of aces on the mound, a close contest was expected, but a back-and-forth extra inning affair assured the UC Irvine and Cal State Northridge fans got their money’s worth Friday Night at Anteater Ballpark.

Taylor Sparks’ 11th inning walk-off single gave Irvine a 4-3 win, but it only came after Northridge tied the game in the eighth inning, escaped jams in the eighth and ninth, took a 10th inning lead only to give the run back and have to get out of another Anteaters threat. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Big West, Cal-State Northridge, CBD Photo Gallery, UC-Irvine

SoCal Weekend Wrap: Devastating Dirtbag Losses

Shotgun Spratling

– March 26, 2013Posted in: 2013 Season Coverage, Big West, CBD Column, Mountain West, Pac 12, West Coast Conference

It was a rough weekend for Long Beach State, who had two very disappointing endings. Outside of the Dirtbags’ struggles against rival Cal State Fullerton, it was a very successful weekend in Southern California as SoCal squads won five of the seven other series that were played.

We provided you with live updates on Twitter (@SoCal_CBDaily) throughout the weekend, but here’s a recap of all the weekend action:

Read the rest of this entry »

SoCal Weekend Wrap: It’s Kris Bryant’s World

Shotgun Spratling

– March 19, 2013Posted in: 2013 Season Coverage, Big West, CBD Column, Mountain West, Pac 12, West Coast Conference

After a rough weekend overall last week, the Southern California squads bounced back with four series sweeps and a pair of series wins. Pepperdine took a SoCal West Coast Conference matchup with Loyola Marymount in walk-off fashion and Kris Bryant made a claim for Golden Spikes early frontrunner with a monster weekend against BYU.

We provided you with live updates on Twitter (@SoCal_CBDaily) throughout the weekend, but here’s a recap of all the weekend action:

Read the rest of this entry »