UC Santa Barbara junior Cameron Newell and Long Beach State sophomore Nick Sabo claimed Big West Baseball Field Player and Pitcher of the Week honors as they helped their teams to conference series victories.
Newell Locked In At The Plate
Opposing pitchers could not keep Cameron Newell (Roseburg, Ore./Linn-Benton CC) off the base paths as the UC Santa Barbara junior hit .643 to earn Big West Baseball Field Player of the Week.
The outfielder had nine hits in 14 at-bats and also reached base three additional times via the walk or hit by pitch to help the Gauchos enjoy a 3-1 week, including a series road victory against UC Riverside.
Newell started the week 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI to propel UCSB to a 12-4 victory over San Diego on Wednesday. He added a stolen base versus the Toreros to pad his stat line.
Heading into a matchup with UC Riverside, a team that entered the series with an 11-1 home record, it was Newell who spearheaded UC Santa Barbara's effort to take two out of three games.
Newell registered a 3-for-5 performance with two RBI in Friday's 10-7 victory. He went 1-for-2 with a double and a walk in a 2-0 triumph Saturday. Although the Gauchos dropped an 8-5 decision in the series finale, Newell led the offense with three more hits in four at-bats.
The junior college transfer posted a sparkling .706 on-base percentage. Newell has now recorded a hit in 24 of the last 25 games, and has reached base in all but two of his starts this season.
Others nominated: J.D. Davis (Cal State Fullerton); Cal Vogelsang (Cal State Northridge); Ino Patron (Long Beach State); Taylor Sparks (UC Irvine)
Sabo Helps Long Beach State Win Twice Against Ranked Opponents
Sophomore Nick Sabo (Spring Valley, Calif./Monte Vista HS) threw a combined eight and two-thirds scoreless innings against a pair of wins against ranked foes, helping the Long Beach State hurler earn Big West Baseball Pitcher of the Week honors.
The 6-4 southpaw received the start against No. 7 UCLA on the road Tuesday, and he tossed five impeccable innings in an 11-1 rout of the Bruins. Sabo allowed just three hits and no runs, walked three and struck out two as the 49ers got the week off to a solid start.
Sabo returned to the mound in a relief appearance in Sunday's victory against No. 18 Cal Poly. With the Mustangs leading 3-0 in the third inning and threatening for more, Sabo entered for starter David Hill and wiggled out of a bases loaded, one-out jam. He then tossed three additional scoreless innings, yielding just two hits as LBSU eventually mounted a rally and won 9-5.
For the week, Sabo surrendered just five hits against a pair of ranked foes.
Others nominated: Grahamm Wiest (Cal State Fullerton); Jerry Keel (Cal State Northridge); Matt Whitehouse (UC Irvine); Justin Jacome (UC Santa Barbara)