Sophomore Taylor Sparks and junior Andrew Morales helped propel UC Irvine to a crucial series victory against fellow postseason contender Cal Poly, earning the duo Big West Baseball Field Player and Pitcher of the Week honors, respectively.
Sparks Slugs Way To Recognition
Taylor Sparks (Long Beach, Calif./St. John Bosco HS) hit .538 and posted a 1.077 slugging percentage against Cal Poly in an impressive display at the plate for the UC Irvine sophomore, garnering him Big West Baseball Field Player of the Week accolades.
His exploits aided UCI exponentially in a 2-1 week against the 22nd-ranked Mustangs in a series between two clubs near the top of the Big West standings looking to polish their postseason résumés. Sparks, who hit for the series cycle, also scored four runs and drove in four more to help push the Anteaters into sole possession of third place.
Sparks went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI, belting a triple and home run in a 7-1 series-opening win Friday. It was his team-leading ninth jack and fourth triple of the 2013 campaign.
In a 4-3 loss Saturday, Sparks posted an RBI-double and walk and closed the series with a 3-for-5 performance in Sunday's 11-1 win. He laced his second double of the three-game set against the Mustangs while scoring a run and driving in another.
Sparks moved into the team lead with 70 hits as the Anteaters prepare for a showdown this weekend against first-place Cal State Fullerton.
Others nominated: Chad Wallach (Cal State Fullerton); Jeff McNeil (Long Beach State); Marc Flores (Hawai’i ); Gio Brusa (Pacific)
Morales Records Career-High Strikeout Total To Clinch Series
UC Irvine junior Andrew Morales (Covina, Calif./Rio Hondo CC) notched a career-high in strikeouts and remained undefeated on the season as his effort against No. 22 Cal Poly secured him Big West Baseball Pitcher of the Week recognition.
Morales struck out 10 Mustangs in seven spotless innings of scoreless ball as the Anteaters won the rubber game Sunday, 11-1. The right-hander scattered four hits and walked one, retiring the final eight batters he faced before giving way to the UCI bullpen.
He recorded seven of his 10 strikeouts in the first three innings and struck out the side in the fourth.
The performance improved Morales to 10-0 on the season and lowered his ERA to 1.79.
UCI's two wins against Cal Poly moved the team into sole possession of third place in the Big West with a 13-8 conference record.
Others nominated: Justin Garza (Cal State Fullerton); John Salas (Cal State Northridge); Shane Carle (Long Beach State); Harry Stanwyck (UC Davis); Austin Pettibone (UC Santa Barbara)