UC Irvine’s Dalton honored on first team

Senior Brett Dalton was the lone Anteater named to the All-Big West

Conference first team while catcher Mark Wagner and pitcher Chris

Nicoll were second-team selections. Reliever Blair Erickson rounded

out the list of Anteater honorees as an honorable mention choice.

Dalton collected his first nod from the Big West after having the

best season of his career, batting a team-high .376. The second

baseman was second on the team in hits with 64, second in triples

(3), third in doubles (10), fourth in runs scored (32) and stolen

bases (11) and fifth in RBIs (23).

Wagner earned his second all-conference second-team title after

batting .355 with a league-leading 78 hits. The junior catcher

recorded 11 doubles, four triples and was tied for second on the team

with four home runs.

Nicoll was named All-Big West second team after posting a 2.50 ERA

and striking out 113 in 111.2 innings. The right-hander walked just

24 batters and was 6-4 on the season in 17 starts. The junior allowed

31 earned runs and led the Big West with 44 batters struck out

looking.

Erickson posted a minuscule 1.80 ERA and held opposing batters to

a .140 batting average. The right-hander had 10 saves this season and

struck out 52 in 35 innings pitched.