Josh Estill produced three straight multi-RBI games at the plate, and Chris Mathewson presided over the first no-hitter in program history as the Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State newcomers secured Big West Baseball Field Player and Pitcher of the Week honors, respectively.
Estill Leads Offensive Parade In Baylor Sweep
Cal State Fullerton sophomore Josh Estill (Carlsbad, Calif./Purdue) knocked in two game-winners and batted .500 in a three-game sweep of visiting Baylor to earn Big West Baseball Field Player of the Week honors.
The first baseman had six hits in 12 at-bats to help fuel an offense that outscored the Bears 28-13 for the series. He drove in six of those runs with back-to-back-to-back two-RBI contests.
In the series opener, a 10-1 victory, Estill went 2-for-4 at the plate with a triple. In game two, the Purdue transfer helped the Titans rebound from a late game deficit, posting a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth to give CSF the 7-6 lead.
Estill capped the series with another two-run single to clinch a 7-6 victory on Sunday. He is now hitting .394 on the season with a team-best 11 RBI’s.
Others nominated: Justin Toerner (CSUN); Garrett Hampson (Long Beach State); Austin March (UC Davis); Mikey Duarte (UC Irvine); Vince Fernandez (UC Riverside); Andrew Calica (UC Santa Barbara); Eric Ramirez (Hawai‘i)
Mathewson Contributes To First No-Hitter In Long Beach State History
Long Beach State freshman Chris Mathewson (Fontana, Calif./Kaiser HS) contributed to the first no-hitter in school history as the Big West Baseball Pitcher of the Week.
The 6-1 right-hander tossed the opening seven innings in Long Beach State’s 4-0 shutout of Wichita State on Sunday. He walked just one and struck out eight while facing one over the minimum before giving way to fellow freshman Darren McCaughan, who set down six straight Shockers to finish off the no-hitter.
Mathewson helped make history in just the second start of his career. He retired the first 11 batters of the game in order and set down the final six he faced as he registered his first career victory.
Mathewson and McCaughan’s performance represents the 17th no-hitter (second shared) in Big West history, and the first since Cal State Fullerton’s Justin Garza no-hit CSUN on May 23, 2014.
Others nominated: Thomas Eshelman (Cal State Fullerton); Conner O’Neil (CSUN); Orlando Razo (UC Davis); Matt Esparza (UC Irvine); Justin Jacome (UC Santa Barbara); LJ Brewster (Hawai‘i)