FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
Nick Ramirez helped Cal State Fullerton to three wins against nationally ranked opponents for Big West Baseball Field Player of the Week honors, while Long Beach State right-hander Branden Pinder tossed his first career complete game shutout to nab Pitcher of the Week recognition.
Ramirez Slugs Three Home Runs In 3-1 Week For Cal State Fullerton
Cal State Fullerton’s Nick Ramirez (Anaheim, Calif./Katella HS) collected Big West Baseball Field Player of the Week honors after producing six of the team’s 22 runs and helping the team to three wins against nationally ranked opponents.
Ramirez batted .333 (5-for-15) with three runs and six RBI as the Titans defeated No. 3 UCLA and took two of three games in a key Big West series versus rival UC Irvine. The sophomore blasted three home runs to help him post a .933 slugging percentage for the week.
In the 6-1 victory against the Bruins, he belted his first of the three homers to cap a five-run first inning and give the Titans momentum they would never relinquish.
He started out the series against the Anteaters with a solo home run to tie the game at 1-1 in Friday’s eventual 7-4 loss. In Saturday’s 6-3 win, Ramirez pounded his third home run of the week, and fourth in the last five games.
Ramirez extended his hitting streak to nine games with a 2-for-3 performance and an RBI in Fullerton’s series-clinching 6-1 win against the Anteaters. During his hitting streak, Ramirez is hitting .429 (15-for-35) with 10 extra base hits (four doubles, a triple and five home runs) and 19 RBI.
Others nominated: Scott Lyman (UC Davis); Brian McConkey (UC Riverside); Matt Valaika (UC Santa Barbara); J.B. Brown (Pacific)
Long Beach State’s Pinder Blanks UC Davis
Long Beach State’s Branden Pinder (Torrance, Calif./Santa Ana CC) delivered the first complete game shutout of his career to capture Big West Baseball Pitcher of the Week accolades.
Pinder went the distance as the 49ers salvaged the final game of a three-game series, winning 11-0 against UC Davis on Saturday. Pinder tossed a three-hitter and allowed only one walk while throwing just 100 pitches in an efficient performance. He also struck out three.
The sophomore faced the minimum 12 batters over the final four innings of the game and got a double play to remove the only Aggie baserunner in those final four frames.
Others nominated: Tyler Pill (Cal State Fullerton); Dayne Quist (UC Davis); Matt Larkins (UC Riverside); Jesse Meaux (UC Santa Barbara); Hunter Carnevale (Pacific)
