Danny Espinosa and Andrew Liebel led nationally-ranked Long Beach State to a series win over No. 3 Rice to earn the first Big West Player and Pitcher of the Week accolades of the 2008 season.

In Friday’s 1-0 10th-inning win over Rice, Liebel pitched 8.0 innings, allowing just five hits and fanning a career-high 11 batters. Outdueling National Freshman of the Year Ryan Berry, the Pomona, Calif. native, gave up just one walk in eight shutout innings. At one point, Liebel (0-0) managed to retire 12 consecutive batters.

Espinosa added the extra spark late in 10th inning with a game-winning, walk-off singe to the left field warning track to lift the 49ers to a season-opening 1-0 win over the Owls. The following day he went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, double and single, guiding Long Beach State to a 3-2 victory and a series win over Rice. The 6-foot shortstop led the way both offensively and defensively, scoring all three of the 49ers' runs and assisting on three double plays.

He extended his hit streak to three, going 1-for-3 in Sunday’s 3-1 loss. His lone hit ignited a sixth-inning rally that loaded the bases before Rice worked its way out of it. For the week, Espinosa hit .500 (6-for-12) and recorded six hits, three runs and 2 RBI.

Long Beach State returns to action Tuesday for a nonconference tilt against San Diego. The 49ers and Toreros square off at Blair Field Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The 49ers follow that up with a three-game series against nationally-ranked Wichita State.

Other pitchers nominated: Brad McAtee (UCD), Steven Fischback (CP), Mike Ford (UCSB), Stephen Penney (UCR), Scott Gorgen (UCI)
Other players nominated: Erik Komatsu (CSF), Jake Jefferies (UCD), Wes Dorrell (CP), Chris Fox (UCSB), Joey Gonzales (UCR), Ryan Fisher (UCI), Richard Cates (CSUN)