UC Riverside's Jaime Pedroza and Marc Rzepczynski guided the Highlanders to a 4-0 week against nationally ranked opponents and a top 25 ranking to sweep Easton Big West Player and Pitcher of the Week accolades for the second time this year. This marks both Pedroza and Rzepczynski’s second weekly honor of the season.

Pedroza opened the week with a solo home run in the first inning against No. 18 UCLA and went on to score the game-winning run in a 3-1 victory. On Friday against the 14th-ranked Titans, the 5-10 shortstop again scored the game-winning run, this time in the bottom of the ninth in a 3-2 win. In Saturday’s 3-0 victory, Pedroza went 2-for-2 with two walks, and scored a run. He ended the week with a first-inning two-run home run to give UCR a 2-1 lead that the Highlanders would never relinquish, as they went on to down the Titans, 5-4. For the week, the Covina, Calif., native went 5-for-10 (.500) with six walks, scoring five runs and three RBI.

On Saturday, Rzepczynski had the best start of his career as the southpaw tossed a complete-game shutout against the 14th ranked Cal State Fullerton Titans. The Yorba Linda, Calif., native was dominant all evening, finishing with one walk and nine strikeouts and scattering just three hits. While facing just four over the minimum, Rzepczynski threw 118 pitches, 78 for strikes, to give UC Riverside a series win. He retired 10 straight from the fifth through the eighth inning and did not allow a runner to reach second. Pitching his second consecutive complete game, he improves to 6-1 on the season.

Others nominated for this week's honor were pitchers Manny McElroy (Long Beach State) and Thomas Eager (Cal Poly), shortstop Kyle Smith (Cal Poly), utility Taylor Holiday (UC Irvine) and first baseman Shane Peterson (Long Beach State).