Tommy Jew had a career-best five RBI in one win, and Matt Acosta hurled his first career shutout to highlight the baseball weekly award winners.
TOMMY JEW, UC SANTA BARBARA – FIELD PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sophomore • CF • San Ramon, Calif. • Dougherty Valley HS
➜ UC Santa Barbara sophomore Tommy Jew earned his first career Big West Baseball Field Player of the Week award as he led the offense in a 2-1 series win against UC Riverside.
➜ The centerfielder hit .600 (9-for-15) and slugged 1.067, playing an integral role in UCSB’s 33-run scoring outburst over the three games. He scored six of those runs and knocked in seven more with his bat.
➜ Jew contributed four extra base hits against the Highlanders – two doubles, a triple and his third home run of the season.
➜ In Saturday’s 14-2 victory, Jew collected a career-high five RBI. He delivered a two-RBI triple as part of a six-run eruption in the seventh inning. Jew also had three other RBI singles to complete a 4-for-4 day at the plate.
➜ In Friday’s 9-8, 12-inning triumph, Jew produced his first 4-hit performance of the series, finishing 4-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI. He also stole a pair of bases. With the Gauchos trailing 8-6 in the 11th, Jew cranked an up-and-in pitch over the scoreboard in left field to knot the game at 8-8.
➜ Jew doubled and scored twice in Sunday’s 14-10 loss to the Highlanders.
Others nominated: Ruben Cardenas (Cal State Fullerton); Justin Toerner (CSUN); Ryan Anderson (UC Davis); Anthony Lepre (UC Riverside)
MATT ACOSTA, CSUN – PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Junior • RHP • San Bernardino, Calif. • Riverside CC
➜ CSUN junior Matt Acosta notched his first career Big West Baseball Pitcher of the Week honor thanks to tossing a five-hit shutout.
➜ The right-hander collected his first career shutout in a 2-0 victory at Hawai‘i to clinch the series victory for the Matadors.
➜ Acosta did not walk a batter and struck out five to improve to 5-5 overall and lower his ERA to 3.88 on the season.
➜ Acosta retired 11 straight batters at one point and 18 of 19. It was the first time this season that the Matadors blanked an opponent.
➜ He wiggled out of an eighth inning jam with runners on the corners and one out, inducing a 6-3 double play to end the threat.
➜ Acosta’s previous career-high for innings pitched was seven. He had only thrown six innings or more twice this season entering the contest.
Others nominated: Colton Eastman (Cal State Fullerton); Clayton Andrews (Long Beach State); Chris Brown (UC Davis); Stevie Ledesma (UC Santa Barbara)