Photo by: UCR Athletics Media Relations
Big West Coaches Pick UC Riverside Baseball To Finish Fifth In 2012
1/25/2012 8:49:00 AM | Baseball
Irvine, CA—The Big West Conference released its preseason baseball poll Monday afternoon and the league's nine coaches have tabbed the Highlanders to finish in fifth place in 2012.
Cal State Fullerton received six first place votes and a total of 76 overall points assuming the mantle of preseason favorite heading into the season. UC Irvine received the other three first-place votes to go along with 70 points. Long Beach State (58 points) and Cal Poly (54) round out the top four.
Last season, the Highlanders went 29-23 with an 11-13 mark in the Big West—good enough for a fifth place finish. Returning to the UCR rotation this year are two of the team's top three starters in Eddie Orozco (5-2, 2.29) and Trevor Frank (2-3, 3.35). Also back in the fold is last year's saves leader, Mitch Patito, who closed out six games for the Highlanders in 2011.
UC Riverside must replace a sizeable portion of its batting order, however, as shortstop Trevor Hairgrove (.336/.403/.453), third baseman Ryan Goetz (.318/.371/.423), outfielder Justin Shults (.293/.392/.453), center fielder Tony Nix (.282/.343/.422), second baseman/first baseman Bryan Horst (.234)/.325/.285) and catcher Dan Pellegrino (.227/.258/.282) are all gone due to graduation.
Outfielder/designated hitter David Andriese (.307/.392/.453) and catcher Bart Steponovich (.392/.377/.323) are the top returning position players for the Highlanders this season.
The 2012 campaign gets underway on Friday, February 17 with a home double header against BYU. First pitch is slated for 3 pm PT. (View the entier 2012 schedule).
Cal State Fullerton received six first place votes and a total of 76 overall points assuming the mantle of preseason favorite heading into the season. UC Irvine received the other three first-place votes to go along with 70 points. Long Beach State (58 points) and Cal Poly (54) round out the top four.
Last season, the Highlanders went 29-23 with an 11-13 mark in the Big West—good enough for a fifth place finish. Returning to the UCR rotation this year are two of the team's top three starters in Eddie Orozco (5-2, 2.29) and Trevor Frank (2-3, 3.35). Also back in the fold is last year's saves leader, Mitch Patito, who closed out six games for the Highlanders in 2011.
UC Riverside must replace a sizeable portion of its batting order, however, as shortstop Trevor Hairgrove (.336/.403/.453), third baseman Ryan Goetz (.318/.371/.423), outfielder Justin Shults (.293/.392/.453), center fielder Tony Nix (.282/.343/.422), second baseman/first baseman Bryan Horst (.234)/.325/.285) and catcher Dan Pellegrino (.227/.258/.282) are all gone due to graduation.
Outfielder/designated hitter David Andriese (.307/.392/.453) and catcher Bart Steponovich (.392/.377/.323) are the top returning position players for the Highlanders this season.
The 2012 campaign gets underway on Friday, February 17 with a home double header against BYU. First pitch is slated for 3 pm PT. (View the entier 2012 schedule).
Thursday, May 21
Monday, May 04
Friday, May 01
Tuesday, March 24
