Eric Johnson knocked in two game-winning runs and Tom Briner pitched a complete game shutout as the two UC Davis seniors picked up Big West Baseball Field Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week honors, respectively.
Johnson Shows Power, Drives In Key Runs
Eric Johnson’s (Los Altos, Calif./Bellarmine Prep) standout performance helped UC Davis win a series against second place Long Beach State and earn the senior Big West Baseball Field Player of the Week honors.
Johnson hit .467 (7-for-15) with three runs scored and four RBI as the Aggies posted a 2-2 record for the week. He flashed some power as well with two doubles and a home run among his seven hits.
He began the week with a 2-for-5 effort in a 9-8 loss to Nevada on Tuesday. He aided in a ninth inning rally that saw the Aggies score six runs with two outs in the top of the ninth.
Johnson helped hurt Long Beach State’s chances to win a Big West regular season title as he recorded two game-winning RBI in the series to drop the Dirtbags to two games back in the title chase.
In Friday’s 6-5 thriller, Johnson laced an RBI-double that would have driven in the winning run had LBSU not tied it in the top of the ninth. However, the first baseman delivered a walk off single in the bottom of the frame for the win.
Johnson doubled, drew a walk and clubbed his first home run of the season in Saturday’s 5-0 shutout of the Dirtbags. He had a walk in Sunday’s game to reach safely in all four games for the week.
Others nominated: Mike Miller (Cal Poly); Anthony Hutting (Cal State Fullerton); Nathan Ring (Cal State Northridge); Vince Gonzalez (UC Riverside); Greg Mahle (UC Santa Barbara); Brett Christopher (Pacific)
Briner Posts Shutout Against Long Beach State
Tom Briner (Redding, Calif./Foothill HS) hurled his third complete game of the season and second shutout as the UC Davis senior corraled Big West Baseball Pitcher of the Week accolades.
Briner threw an economical 79 pitches to set down Long Beach State in a 5-0 victory on Saturday. The right-hander scattered six hits and did not walk a batter as he faced just three batters over the minimum.
Briner forced the Dirtbags to put the ball in play as 60 of his 79 pitches went for strikes and he finished the game with just one strikeout. Briner was especially effective in the middle innings, retiring the side in the third, fourh and sixth and inducing an inning-ending double play in the fifth. After allowing a single with one out in the top of the ninth, he got a game-ending double play.
Others nominated: Joey Wagman (Cal Poly); Grahamm Wiest (Cal State Fullerton); Jerry Keel (Cal State Northridge); Eddie Orozco (UC Riverside)