Solid performances from Robby Nesovic and Chris Mathewson led them to Big West baseball weekly honors.
Nesovic Supplies Steady Offense In Series Victory
UC Santa Barbara junior Robby Nesovic (La Mesa, Calif./Grossmont HS) led the offense in a series win over Central Coast rival Cal Poly, garnering Big West Baseball Field Player of the Week accolades.
Playing in the field for just the fourth through sixth times this season, Nesovic hit .667 (8-for-12) with five RBI for the Big West’s leading offense. The first baseman registered three hits in UCSB’s 8-7 series-opening victory and followed up with four more in the rubber game, a 7-3 triumph over the Mustangs.
In Friday’s win, Nesovic delivered a trio of RBI singles. In the series clincher Sunday, he had four more base hits with a run scored and two RBI.
For the season, Nesovic ranks No. 1 in the Big West with 34 RBI and No. 2 in average (.369).
Others nominated: Yusuke Akitoshi (CSUN); Joey Sanchez (Long Beach State); Izaak Silva (UC Davis); Mikey Duarte (UC Irvine)
Mathewson Delivers Another Gem For Third Award Of 2015
Earning his second consecutive Big West Baseball Pitcher of the Week award and third overall this season, Long Beach State freshman Chris Mathewson (Fontana, Calif./Kaiser HS) turned in another stellar performance with eight scoreless innings against UC Riverside.
The right-hander notched a career-high 10 strikeouts and walked no one as the Dirtbags rolled to a 10-1 win over the Highlanders. Mathewson needed just 92 pitches to eat up the eight innings and scattered just four hits as he lowered his Big West league-best ERA to 1.28.
Mathewson also extended his scoreless streak to 24 innings, and was rarely threatened by the UCR offense as only one runner reached third base during his stint on the mound.
The award continues an incredible run of dominance for the Dirtbag pitching staff. LBSU has racked up four consecutive Pitcher of the Week awards – at least one by each member of the starting rotation – and six total in 10 weeks this season.
Others nominated: John Gavin (Cal State Fullerton); Rayne Raven (CSUN); Spencer Koopmans (UC Davis); Cameron Bishop (UC Irvine); Joie Dunyon (UC Riverside); LJ Brewster (Hawai‘i)