Helping their teams record series wins in conference action, UC Irvine junior Mitchell Holland and UC Riverside senior Joie Dunyon received the final Big West Baseball Field Player and Pitcher of the Week accolades of 2015, respectively.
Holland Powers UC Irvine Offense To Record Series Win At CSUN
UC Irvine junior Mitchell Holland (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif./Mission Viejo HS) received Big West Baseball Field Player of the Week recognition after helping the ’Eaters to a series win over CSUN.
Holland led the Anteater offense by driving in seven runs on eight hits to post a 1.154 slugging percentage versus the Matadors. The first baseman became the third ’Eater this season to go yard in back-to-back at bats after belting a pair of home runs in the series opener to help Irvine take a 7-3 victory. Holland’s first five hits all drove in at least one run and his two-run round-tripper drove in the game-winning runs Thursday.
To put UCI on the board Friday, the junior posted a pair of RBI hits and in the rubber match Sunday, Holland’s first RBI single gave Irvine a 1-0 lead while his third would bring in an insurance run. The first baseman completed the day batting four for five with two RBI.
Holland’s offensive prowess helped the ’Eaters claim their sixth series in league play.
Others nominated: Jerrod Bravo (Cal State Fullerton); Austin March (UC Davis); Vince Fernandez (UC Riverside); Jacob Sheldon-Collins (Hawai‘i)
Dunyon Upends No. 8 UC Santa Barbara in Win
Senior RHP Joie Dunyon (Long Beach, Calif./St. John Bosco HS) received Big West Pitcher of the Week accolades after scattering five hits over eight-and-two-third innings, the longest of his career in a single outing, to lead the Highalnders to a 3-2 victory over No. 8 UC Santa Barbara and improve to 2-4 on the year. With the help of Dunyon’s performance Friday, the Highlanders dealt UCSB, the top offense in the Big West, just its second series loss in conference action.
Friday’s victory snapped the longest losing streak in Riverside’s Division I era and helped the Highlanders record a series win versus the Gauchos, their first series win in Big West play.
The senior walked three and recorded four strikeouts with just a singe earned run for a 1.04 ERA on the outing.
Dunyon also set the NCAA record for highest runs-to-at-bat radio when he pinch ran in Saturday's win over the Gauchos and scored what would prove to be the difference maker in the 3-2 win.
Others nominated: Thomas Eshelman (Cal State Fullerton); Raul Jacobson (UC Davis); Evan Manarino (UC Irvine); Tyler Brashears (Hawai‘i)