Cal State Fullerton senior P.J. Pilittere (Walnut, Calif.) was named Big West Player of the Week. The Titan catcher/first baseman batted .571 (12-for-21) in four games, in which the team won three. Pilittere went 10-for-15 in the three-game series against Fresno State with six runs scored and three RBI, including three doubles and a home run. He collected at least three hits in each game against FS.
UC Irvine junior Brett Smith (La Habra, Calif.) was named Big West Pitcher of the Week. The Anteater right-hander matched a career-high 10 strikeouts in his win over Minnesota. Smith went 8.2 innings, allowing six hits and two walks and faced just three batters over the minumum. He improved to 4-0 on the year ans leads UCI with 38 strikeouts. It marks the second time this season Smith has been named pitcher of the week.
Cal Poly Squares Off Against No. 1 Stanford
Cal Poly will head north to battle the nation's top ranked squad in Stanford. The Cardinal have not lost a series all year and boast a 43-9 all-time record against the Mustangs, including a three-game sweep last season. The only time Cal Poly has walked away with a victory against Stanford since moving to Division I (1995) was during the 2001, when the Mustangs won the season opener, 6-5, in extra innings. Cal Poly open week's play at home against Ivy League foe Cornell for two games. The Mustangs are 6-2 against the Ivy League since 1995.
Long Beach State and UC Irvine will meet for two non-conference games at Anteater Ballpark. The 49ers will host Wichita State for two games prior to traveling to Irvine, Calif. The Anteaters and 49ers have not lost a series this season and post the conference's best two records. UC Irvine own the head-to-head advantage all-time at 41-34, but have gone 6-12 against LBSU since 1989.
Pacific will face Sacramento State for a four-game series. The Tigers will host the two games and travel to Sacramento, Calif., for the final two. Pacific went 1-4 against the Hornets last season. The Tigers will try to continue to swing their hot bats, posting a .320 batting average in their last series. Pacific will also battle Nevada on the road for a midweek game prior to the Sac State series.
In other action, UC Riverside will wrap up its second game of Sacramento State and host Air Force for a midweek game. The Highlanders have won four straight and finish the week with three games at Hawaii-Hilo. UC Santa Barbara faces Cornell four times. The Gauchos play game two early in the week and wrap up the five-game home series with three more later in the week. Cal State Fullerton will host Pepperdine in its only game of the week. The Titans won a 10-inning, four-hour marathon against the Waves last week on the road.