A pair of underclassmen shined the brightest as UC Riverside's Joe Chavez and Cal State Fullerton's Justin Garza were tabbed the Big West Baseball Field Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively.
Chavez Posts Five Straight Multiple-Hit Games
UC Riverside sophomore Joe Chavez (Ontario, Calif./Damien HS) pounded out 13 hits in five games to corral Big West Baseball Field Player of the Week honors.
The 5-11 center fielder posted five straight multiple-hit games, batted .565 (13-for-23), scored eight runs and drove in nine as the Highlanders went 3-2 in competition last week.
Chavez is the first Highlander to tally five straight multiple-hit efforts since Trevor Hairgrove from April 22-30, 2011.
He tallied eight of his nine RBI in the final three games of the New Mexico series. Chavez hit 4-for-5 with three runs scored and three RBI in a 14-12 win and went 2-for-5 with a double, triple and two RBI in a 14-9 triumph. He knocked in three runs for the second straight game in a 10-7 loss to the Lobos. Chavez is the first UCR player to drive in three runs in back-to-back games since David Andriese on April 29 and 20, 2011 against UC Santa Barbara.
The youngster also displayed his speed on the basepaths, going 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts for the week.
Others nominated: Jimmy Allen (Cal Poly); Richy Pedroza (Cal State Fullerton); Nate Ring (Cal State Northridge); Connor Spencer (UC Irvine); Erik Lockwood (Pacific)
Garza Stifles Texas A&M
Cal State Fullerton freshman Justin Garza (Ontario, Calif./Bonita HS) handcuffed Texas A&M to the tune of seven scoreless innings to claim Big West Baseball Pitcher of the Week accolades.
Garza scattered just five hits and walked one as his effort helped the Titans even the series in the 2-0 victory. The right-hander struck out five during the 109-pitch effort and racked up his second combined shutout.
The phenom has hurled 28.1 innings this year, allowing just three earned runs for a miniscule 0.95 ERA and holding opposing hitters to a .176 average.
Others nominated: Matt Imhof (Cal Poly); Jerry Keel (Cal State Northridge); Evan Wolf (UC Davis); Andrew Morales (UC Irvine); Michael Benson (Pacific)